CHAPTER XLII

1836: AGED SIXTY-ONE

THE RECEPTION OF 'JULIET AND HER NURSE' PROCLAIMS THAT TURNER IS BEGINNING TO LOSE FAVOUR WITH THE PUBLIC

This year, alas! Turner exhibited 'Juliet and her Nurse,' and 'Mercury and Argus.' How strange it is that the hand that was painting Delight Drawings and Pictures for pleasure should also be producing 'Juliet and her Nurse' and 'Mercury and Argus' for exhibition. Even kindly Time has not brought 'Mercury and Argus' into favour. Shown at the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910, all a modern critic could say was: 'It is charitable to suppose that it was hastily produced for purposes of exhibition, with a carelessness as to technical structure which time has exposed.' The contemporary attacks on 'Juliet and her Nurse,' following the severe criticism in _Blackwood_ of the Venice picture, provoked Ruskin to write the letter, the germ of _Modern Painters_, mentioned in the foregoing chapter. This defence by the fiery champion of seventeen was acknowledged by Turner' with thanks but without praise,' and he added, 'I never move in these matters.'

During the journey to Italy, which Turner made this year with Mr. Munro of Novar, I do not suppose that he ever mentioned the name of Ruskin. That must have been rather a difficult journey, as Munro of Novar was suffering from a 'great depression of spirits'; but the trip seems to have been of benefit to Munro. He reports that Turner enjoyed himself in his way--'a sort of honest Diogenes way '--and that he was companionable enough if such teasing questions were avoided as to how he got this or that colour.

Turner never rhapsodised about scenery. His usual morning question during that journey was, 'Have you got the sponge?' He was fond of laconic remarks. One of them I shall always remember. Ruskin, before starting forth on a certain foreign tour, called upon Turner to bid him good-bye, the ardent youth no doubt expecting, hoping for, priceless words of counsel; but Turner was mainly anxious that the young author should not give his parents cause for anxiety on his travels. 'They will be in such a fidge about you,' were his parting words.