Ingleborough from Chapel-Le-Dale 1810 - 1815

Joseph Mallord William Turner created this watercolour painting of Ingleborough from Chapel-Le-Dale. Turner was working during a period of massive social and economic change in Britain with the industrial revolution and urbanization transforming the landscape. Here, Chapel-le-Dale, a remote rural area in the Yorkshire Dales, is presented with a sense of drama and awe. A bolt of lightning illuminates the sky, and a lone figure scurries for shelter, emphasizing the power of nature over humanity. It's a scene of sublime beauty, but also one of potential danger. Turner's art often reflects on the changing relationship between humans and the natural world, particularly the impact of industrialization. Was he making a conservative comment about a world that was changing so fast? Or perhaps a progressive statement showing the sheer power of nature? The interpretation of art is always contingent on social and institutional context, and through historical research, using letters, archives and exhibition records, we might better understand the artist's intentions.