Sunrise with Sea Monsters
J. M. W. Turner · 1845
Why it's great
Strange creatures and a hazy sun seem to rise from the mist, in swirling gold and blue. Turner painted this late in his life as a very experimental picture. It's so abstract that we can't be sure what he meant. It's one of his most mysterious works.
Where to see it
📍 Tate BritainLondon, United Kingdom
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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J. M. W. Turner was born in London, the son of a barber, and became a student at the Royal Academy at just 14. He traveled across Britain and Europe, painting storms, ships, and sunsets in swirling light and color. He called the sky his subject, and his late paintings are almost abstract. He left thousands of works to the British nation when he died in London in 1851.
