Lulworth Castle, Dorset c. 1820

This is a watercolour painting of Lulworth Castle in Dorset by J.M.W. Turner. Turner was fascinated by the relationship between landscape, architecture and the natural world and this picture embodies many of these ideas. Paintings of country estates and castles were popular in England, and served as status symbols for wealthy families. This painting was made during a time of significant social change. With growing industrialisation the old feudal system, based on land ownership, was in decline. The castle serves as a reminder of old power structures. However, Turner has subtly undermined this sense of power, by placing it in the background of the painting, dwarfed by the landscape. The working people in the foreground dominate our attention. They are presented as an integral part of the landscape, hinting at changing social values in England. To understand this work more fully we can look at the history of landscape painting, the changing face of the English social system, and the place of the Royal Academy in promoting artistic values.