{"title":"Sam Smiles","description":"\u003cp\u003eSam Smiles offers insightful explorations into the intersections of art and history, bringing to light the profound narratives behind celebrated artworks. Their works delve into the cultural and social contexts surrounding iconic figures such as J. M. W. Turner, enriching our understanding of art beyond its aesthetic appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a thoughtful examination of the \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e sphere, where artistic genius meets historical inquiry. Smiles’ writing invites reflection on themes such as creativity, legacy, and the wider human stories embedded within art’s evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"turner-and-the-slave-trade-by-sam-smiles-9781913107512","title":"Turner and the Slave Trade","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExploring Turner's evolving response to slavery, from his investment in enslaved labour to his later denunciation in \u003cem\u003eThe Slave Ship\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile J. M. W. Turner's iconic painting \u003cem\u003eThe Slave Ship\u003c\/em\u003e (1840) is celebrated as a powerful criticism of the transatlantic trade in enslaved people, his personal and professional ties to slavery tell a more nuanced story. This book provides the first detailed analysis of Turner's evolving responses to slavery over his lifetime, from his financial investment in a Jamaican property worked by enslaved labourers to his later denunciation of the trade in his art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on extensive archival research, \u003cem\u003eTurner and the Slave Trade\u003c\/em\u003e traces the artist's interactions with patrons tied to the plantation economy and examines the impact of abolitionist discourse on his work. Key chapters investigate \u003cem\u003eThe Slave Ship\u003c\/em\u003e, its inspiration, and its contested interpretations while situating Turner within broader debates about art, slavery and shifting public sentiment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOffering a nuanced understanding of how art engages with history's most urgent issues, this important new study presents Turner as an exceptional yet complex figure, whose legacy is intertwined with the institution of slavery and its eventual abolition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDistributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47031914758380,"sku":"9781913107512","price":71.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3743613482869.jpg?v=1764151674"},{"product_id":"the-late-works-of-j-m-w-turner-by-sam-smiles-9781913107161","title":"The Late Works of J. M. W. Turner","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn exploration of Turner’s final, vital years, including new readings of some of his most significant paintings\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe paintings and drawings Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) produced from 1835 to his death are seen by many as his most audacious and compelling work, a highly personal final vision that ranks with the late styles of the greatest artists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, Sam Smiles shows how a richer account of Turner’s achievement can be presented once his historical circumstances are given proper attention. He discusses the style and subject matter of Turner’s later oil paintings and watercolours, his commercial dealings and his relations with patrons; he examines the artist’s critical reception and scrutinises accounts of his physical and mental health to see what can be reliably said about this last phase of creative endeavour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEmerging from this study is an artist who used his final years to consolidate the principles that had motivated him throughout his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDistributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47599550890220,"sku":"9781913107161","price":83.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/cda535495eec7519eeff1ad5a2b0631f.jpg?v=1778022174"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/sam-smiles.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}