Mr. Turner

From childhood onwards, William Turner had only one passion: painting. He always found support in this from his father, a hairdresser and wig maker. By 1826, he had already made it: he was a renowned and eccentric member of the Royal Academy. Turner lived in London with his father, whom he loved deeply, and his housekeeper Hannah, who also served him sexually. In keeping with the cliche of a genius, he was egomaniacal, quick-tempered, uncompromising, taciturn, but also extremely sensitive. He was a welcome guest at the country estates of the nobility, but at the same time he was drawn to brothels. Turner is constantly on the move and increasingly focused on capturing the impression of a moment realistically in his paintings. For example, he has himself tied to a ship's mast so that he can paint a storm as authentically as possible. He is fascinated by the new technology of his time, whether railways or steamships. But ultimately, he devotes himself to light in all its forms, as he finds it above all in the coastal town of Margate. Under a different name, he takes up residence with Sophia Booth and begins a secret, intimate love affair with her. Opinions are divided about the restless and anarchic artist: art critic John Ruskin passionately defends him against critics who mock Turner's increasingly abstract paintings as daubs. When he is offered £100,000 for his entire oeuvre, he rejects the offer. Turner remains radical in both his art and his private life until old age. His housekeeper Hannah only learns late in life about the other life he leads with Sophia Booth.