A Day in Oxford

This past week in the Ashmolean Museum, I encountered a painting by William Turner, an artist who had a deep passion for light, nature, and was particularly known for his landscape paintings. This painting was one of a Street in Oxford that we frequently walk down besides Christ Church College. It is a different style than that of most of Turner's paintings. It contains immense detail with a picturesque blue sky, and shadows from beautiful tall buildings on either side of the street. The painting differs from many of his other works because it tells a story of the daily lifestyles of each person who inhabits the city.  Professors and Fellows walk down the street, possibly having deep philosophical conversations about the lectures they are going to give that day. Others walk along the sidewalk with sacks full of groceries.

One man, climbing up a ladder is doing a repair on the side of the wall of a building. This piece helped me to realize to a greater extent how much history lies inside the city of Oxford. Amazing people who have reformed ways that the country of Britain and event he world think have lived and studied here. Turner traveled to many places- his art shows the different ideas that he received as a traveler. Through his impressionist style, Turner painted the sublime natures of this world through shadows of light with his own Romantic emotions and interpretations.