HISTORICAL DATES.

383

Politicians" in 1806, became Associate in 1807, was R.A. in 1811, the year of "Mercury and Hersé;” 1825 changed his style, and in 1841 died, on his return from the East.

Ed. Williams, famous for his moonlights (carver and gilder), was born 1782, and died 1855.

Richard Wilson, the first great English landscapepainter, was born 1713, returned from Italy 1758, painted "Niobe" in 1760, was Librarian to the Academy in 1776, the year after Turner's birth, and died 1782, when Turner was still a child.

His great engraver, Woollett, the chief glory of our English school, was born 1735, and died 1785.

Of the artists still living, we may specify Turner's old friend, David Roberts, born 1796, and R.A. in 1841.

Sir Charles Eastlake, born 1796, R.A. in 1830, the year of "Calais Sands."

Maclise, born 1811, 1831 R.A.

Mulready, born 1786, R.A. in 1815 (the year of "Dido Building Carthage").

Sir Edwin Landseer, born 1826, R.A. in 1831, the year of "Caligula's Palace."

Millais was born 1819, the year of "Richmond Hill." The following table of historical dates will also serve to show how far the events of the day influenced Turner's art.

Turner born, 1775.

Separation of America in 1782.

George III. deranged, 1788, (Turner aged thirteen). The coalition of France, 1792.

Burke dies, 1797.

(Turner seizes this opportunity, and goes to France and Switzerland.) The next year the war broke out again.

Death of Nelson, 1805.

Death of Pitt and Fox, 1806.
Death of Sir John Moore, 1809.
Prince of Wales Regent, 1811.
War with America renewed, 1812.
Peace with France, 1814.
Waterloo, 1815.

The Spa Fields riot, 1816.
George III. dies, 1820.

Lord Byron dies, 1824.
Catholic emancipation, 1829.
George IV. dies, 1830.
Cholera, 1831.

Reform Bill passes, 1832.

Scott dies, 1832.

Slavery abolished, 1834.

William IV. dies, 1837.

Queen visits Scotland, 1842.

Visits France, 1843.

Now let us view Turner's life by another set of dates, those of French history; for with English history his art does not show any very special sympathy. Bastille destroyed, 1789.

Louis beheaded, 1793.

Napoleon First Consul, 1799.

Napoleon Emperor, 1804.

War with Russia, 1812.

British enter France, 1813.

NAVAL VICTORIES.

385

Napoleon dies, 1821.

Marengo, 1800.

Austerlitz, 1805.

Beresina, 1812.
Leipsic, 1813.

The dates of our great naval victories will show the powerful effect such glories must have had on the mind of Turner.

Cape St. Vincent, 1780.
Rodney, 1782.

Howe, 1794.

Cape St. Vincent, 1797.

Camperdown, 1797.

Nile, 1798.

Texel, 1799.

Copenhagen, 1801.

Trafalgar, 1805.

Dardanelles, 1807.

Basque Roads, 1809.

Algiers, 1816.

Navarino, 1827.
Acre, 1840.

CHAPTER XXIII.

TURNER'S PRICES.

FROM Some account books of Mr. W. B. Cooke's, kindly lent me by Mr. Lupton, I obtain a very clear view of the prices Turner obtained for drawings from 1817 to 1824. As I give all the figures in the Appendix, I will here only select a few of the leading items to

comment on.

For such drawings (prepared for the engraver's use) as "Brixham," "Fowey," "Ilfracombe," Turner received 107. 10s.; for the loan of drawings for the "Rivers of Devon," such as "the Eddystone," "the Junction of the Tamar," &c., not made, I suppose, on purpose for the work, but lying by him in his portfolio, he obtained 51. 5s.

But the charges vary, I suppose, according to certain degrees of finish and goodness, as I find two drawings of Vesuvius, for some work on Pompeii, paid 317. for; and drawings of Battle Abbey (1816), and Winchelsea (1817), paid as low as 61. 6s.

Then come, on the creditor side, in August, 1818, charges for copper supplied for the "Liber Studi

In the same year, 1818, "Hastings, from the Sea,”

CHARGE FOR DRAWINGS.

387

for Mr. Fuller's work, is charged at 421. This, I suppose, is the purchase-money for a work perhaps in oil; and further on, 1897. is paid for "Dover (large drawing for Exhibition, 1823)-Shipwreck," and "Margate-Sunrise."

I find also charges of 21. 28. for touching Tomkinson's "Cuyp" and Girtin's "Kirkstall." The same year, 1822, the drawings of Colne, Rochester, and Norham are charged 81. 88. each.

In 1822 three drawings of the Rhine are charged 857. In 1824 a large drawing of "Smugglers fishing Gin," is marked 631. Then comes a counter item, in 1824, of fourteen numbers of the "Liber Studiorum," at 17. 1s. each, 20 per cent. allowed; making a total of 117. 15s.

In 1824 Turner's charges for lending drawings increase. He now receives 251. for the loan of "Brougham Castle, Totnes," and "Oakhampton Castle," for the "Rivers." For the first two drawings, for the continuation of the Coast (bought by Mr. Tomkinson), Turner receives 52l. 10s.

His oil-pictures might not sell; but he was still getting money in many ways-by making drawings and lending drawings, by publishing the "Liber," and by retouching paintings.

The Times, in 1851, says 120 guineas have not unfrequently been given for a small sketch of Turner's in water-colours; and a small sketch-book containing chalk drawings of one of his river tours on the Continent has lately fetched the enormous sum of 600 guineas.

The prices of his more finished oil-paintings have