A painting widely recognised as JMW Turner's most famous self-portrait, prominently featured on the current £20 banknote, is now being challenged by a leading expert. Dr James Hamilton, a prominent biographer of the Romantic artist, has stated that the work, housed in the Tate collection, is more likely to be by John Opie, a contemporary portraitist.
The portrait has been a central image associated with Turner for many years, cementing its place in the public imagination, especially since its inclusion on the polymer £20 note launched in 2020. The banknote, unveiled at Tate Britain, features both a depiction of Turner's iconic painting 'The Fighting Temeraire' and what was then presented as his most celebrated self-portrait. This re-attribution by Dr Hamilton, if widely accepted, would represent a significant shift in art historical understanding regarding one of Britain's most celebrated painters.
John Opie, a Cornish painter, was known for his portraits and historical subjects, becoming a Royal Academician in 1787. His style and technique differ from Turner's later, more atmospheric and abstract work, yet the initial attribution of the portrait to Turner himself has persisted for decades. Dr Hamilton's assertion is expected to prompt further scholarly examination and debate within the art world, potentially leading to a re-evaluation of the painting's provenance and artistic significance.
The Bank of England's choice of imagery for the £20 note aimed to celebrate Turner's profound impact on British art and culture. While 'The Fighting Temeraire' remains unequivocally a Turner masterpiece, the questioning of the self-portrait's authorship introduces an intriguing new dimension to the narrative surrounding the banknote and the artist it honours. For the public, who interact with the image daily, it raises questions about the authenticity of historical representations and the evolving nature of art scholarship.
This development underscores the ongoing work of art historians and biographers in continually assessing and re-evaluating established facts, even concerning figures as widely studied as JMW Turner. Such re-attributions, while rare for such prominent works, are not unprecedented and can significantly alter our understanding of an artist's body of work and public persona.
Source: Dr James Hamilton