Artistic sunsets based on fact

NOT only did Turner paint wonderful sunsets, but apparently they have helped to track important changes in our climate.

Evelyn Cusack of Met Éireann told RTÉ radio that JMW Turner’s famous sunsets were influenced by volcanic ash in the atmosphere as the result of the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia and that we may witness some similarly spectacular sunsets.

“Very bright, beautiful sunsets could be a possibility. Turner’s sunsets in 1816, when Mount Tambora blew in Indonesia, were directly inspired by the volcanic ash in 1816. In fact, 1816 was internationally famous as the year without a summer so, hopefully, we won’t be getting that kind of effect this year,” she said.

In 2007, scientists measured the ratio of red-to-green colours in the skies of Old Masters, painted between 1500 and 1900.

Out of 327 paintings they found the highest ratios were painted in the three years after a major volcanic eruption. Turner’s sunsets were particularly important because he recorded the skies after three major eruptions, the biggest of which was Mount Tambora.