Why Joe Ain’t Claude

JMW Turner had talent. No doubt. What he lacked were brains and application. His early work confirms his ability; his much-vaunted later ‘masterpieces’ are, in our humble opinion, travesties.

Turner venerated Claude Lorrain, as he should. Compare any of JMW’s harbour-side daubs with this beauty by Claude, (main image, at the Frick Collection in NYC) and judge for yourself who takes the honours.

Really, even Claude at is worst is superior: compare his mediocre ‘Delphi’ (1673)…

…with Joe’s messy meteorological smudge, adding some badly-drawn figures as icing, of Aosta, (“Snowstorm, Avalanche & Thunderstorm”), both works @ the superb Art Institute Chicago: