THE TIMING OF JMW TURNER'S FIRST EXHIBITED OIL

exhibition lists

Butlin and Joll effectively state that 'Fishermen at Sea' was an oil because it was exhibited in the 'Anti-Room'.

Butlin and Joll statement falls short of saying that this is JMW Turner's first exhibited oil but do not refer to a first exhibited oil in their catalogue.

Cunningham - Rising Squall - picture - landscape - 1793

For the purpose of the timing of Turner's first exhibited oil it is necessary to examine the RA catalogue without reference to the titles. All that concerns us at this point is where the painting was hung. If it was in the anti-room it was an oil (with the exception that in 1792 and 1793 four pastils (crayons) were hung in the anti-room)