J. M. W. Turner | State of the Field Symposium

On September 22, 2023, the Yale Center for British Art will host a one-day, online symposium titled “J. M. W. Turner | State of the Field.” This symposium will critically consider the state and meaning of Turner scholarship in advance of the 250th anniversary of Turner's birth in 2025. Thinking through the extensive Turner historiography, the symposium seeks to explore the key ideas, underlying assumptions, and future direction of Turner research, and to consider its place within the broader field of British studies. We are particularly interested in critical analyses of the literature and studies that identify or exemplify potential new perspectives and approaches. We welcome proposals from established and emerging scholars on any topic within Turner studies and encourage participants to be imaginative in their approach.

Themes for consideration include but are not limited to:

- The role of art historians, critics, curators, and institutions in building and maintaining Turner’s artistic prominence
- Turner’s place within past and contemporary approaches to British studies
- Turner’s place within discourses of modernity
- Turner’s own contribution to the construction of his artistic reputation
- “Realism” and “idealism” in Turner’s works
- Narrative and intentional meanings in Turner’s works, and what these might tell us about the artist’s broader social, cultural, and political positioning
- Issues of nationalism, race, and empire in Turner’s work
- Gaps that remain in studies of Turner’s artistic practice, including but not limited to his professional persona, relationships, and networks, and his engagement with the contemporary art market and/or print culture
- Innovative approaches to understanding Turner and his works, including new methodologies, critical perspectives, and future directions

Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words and a short biography by July 7, 2023. Final presentations should not exceed twenty minutes in length.