Village Fête, Macon (after Joseph Mallord William Turner)

William Havell's "Village Fête, Macon" is a fascinating example of an artist engaging with the work of his contemporaries, specifically Joseph Mallord William Turner. Havell, a founding member of the Society of Painters in Watercolours, was known for his landscapes, initially focusing on British scenery like Wales and the Lake District. After a period in India, where he found success painting portraits and landscapes, he returned to England and began working more in oils, as his watercolor style had fallen out of fashion. This piece likely reflects his later period, where he often drew inspiration from European scenes, especially after his travels to Italy in 1827. While the exact details of his 'after Turner' works are not extensively documented, it speaks to the influence of Turner, who was a towering figure in British art. Havell's works, though sometimes overlooked in his lifetime, are now appreciated for their 'good composition and often for the effect of sunshine,' qualities he undoubtedly sought to capture in his interpretations of other masters.