Joseph Mallord William Turner was an eyewitness to the destruction of the Houses of Parliament on October 16, 1834. He painted two oil on canvas paintings showcasing the devastation, which are now housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Cleveland Museum of Art. The Burning Of The Houses Of Lords And Commons, one of his most powerful representations, portrays his unique style within Romanticism.
Turner’s artwork provides a vivid description and analysis of both the fire’s impact and Turner’s artistic talent. The painting depicts flames rising from multiple vantage points across London as plumes of smoke obscure large parts of the landscape. Turner used bold colors and thick brushstrokes to capture intense heat while invoking a sense of chaos through his use of impasto technique.
The painting is one that art enthusiasts can appreciate for its historical accuracy as well as its beauty. It showcases how Turner utilized Romanticism to capture not only what he saw but also how he felt about it in every stroke. By doing so, he created an emotional connection with viewers that makes this masterpiece a seminal piece in Western art history.
