Artwork
Jason
Jason is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Turner. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jason is an etching and mezzotint print created in 1807 by Charles Turner, primarily known for his work in portrait engraving.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the mythological hero Jason in a state of exhaustion, set amidst a turbulent, stormy landscape. The scene conveys dramatic struggle, with Jason lying on the ground, wrapped in cloth, surrounded by twisted trees, rough terrain, and a distant, half-buried boat under a heavy, rainy sky.
Technique & Style
Turner employed etching and mezzotint techniques to achieve deep shadows and textured effects, lending the scene a dynamic, almost sketch-like quality through expressive shading.
History & Provenance
Notably, Charles Turner collaborated with J.M.W. Turner on the early plates of *Liber Studiorum*, though *Jason* showcases his work independently.
Context
Created during a period of artistic innovation, *Jason* reflects the early 19th-century interest in mythological subjects and the development of printmaking techniques.
Legacy
While *Jason* demonstrates Charles Turner’s technical proficiency in etching and mezzotint, its broader impact and reception history are not prominently documented in available records.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Turner (31 August 1774 – 1 August 1857) was an English engraver and draughtsman who specialised in portraiture. He collaborated with J. M. W. Turner (to whom he was not related) on the early plates of the same's Liber Studiorum.
