J.M.W. Turner, 1936

William McMillan RA (1887 - 1977)

RA Collection: Art

On free display in Main Stairs

Holding a paint brush and rag, Turner looks poised to work on a painting. In 1934 the Royal Academy invited McMillan and Alfred Turner RA to submit designs for a statue of J.M.W Turner. They were instructed to submit one or more models in clay or plaster to a scale of 1 foot to 2.5 inches. An honorarium of 200 guineas was paid to each competitor. Subject to modifications, this design by McMillan was selected. It was commissioned for a niche on the main stairs, opposite a statue of Gainsborough by Sir Thomas Brock RA. The statues of Gainsborough and Turner were to replace plaster casts of classical female figures known as the Venus of Medici (03/1481) and the Townley Venus (03/1483), which were instead placed in the Royal Academy Schools. Gainsborough and Turner were selected as examples of important past Royal Academicians.