Turner painting of Donnington to be auctioned, when is a Turner not a Turner? Options

[Andy Capp]

It would seem that Joseph Mallord William Turner, a world famous Romantic landscape painter, painted Donnington Castle. I have never heard of this before. I understand that William Turner of Oxford (a different Turner than the one famous for painting 'The Fighting Temeraire') painted a very similar picture to that listed at Dreweatts.

Are there any art gurus on this forum that could confirm whether the picture is a legitimate JMW Turner, or not? I have a feeling a mistake has been made.


Turner's Donnington Castle painting up at auction



Donnington Castle, taken from a Field adjoining the Road to East Ilsley, from Newbury - by William Turner of Oxford

[IanB]

Interesting speculation.

If there is an error somewhere, I also notice the same has happened with another of JMW Turner's watercolour pieces.

'Newbury, from Speen Hill' circa 1805 is listed on the Tate Collection here:

http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cg...p;searchid=9289

It is also attributed to a 'William Turner (of Oxford)', having also been engraved by William Byrne here:

http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?obj=20238

Interestingly, both this and the Donnington Castle lot were purchased at Sotheby's 22nd February 1977...

[Simon Kirby]

Interesting speculation.

If there is an error somewhere, I also notice the same has happened with another of JMW Turner's watercolour pieces.

'Newbury, from Speen Hill' circa 1805 is listed on the Tate Collection here:

http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cg...p;searchid=9289

It is also attributed to a 'William Turner (of Oxford)', having also been engraved by William Byrne here:

http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?obj=20238

Interestingly, both this and the Donnington Castle lot were purchased at Sotheby's 22nd February 1977...

Yes, here's an engraving of the same original attributed to JMW Turner.