Introduction to a Lost Masterpiece Two hundred and two years ago, the art world was introduced to a prodigious talent at the Royal Academy's summer exhibition in 1793. The artist? Joseph Mallord William Turner , a name that would soon become synonymous with revolutionary landscape painting. His debut oil painting, The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St Vincent’s Rock, Bristol , captured a turbulent seascape, a bustling hot spring, and a dramatic evening sky—all crafted by the then 17-year-old Turner. This work marked his first foray into public display, earning immediate recognition and cementing its place in his early oeuvre. Mentioned in his earliest biographies and later his obituaries, it stood as a testament to his budding genius, blending raw talent with an ambitious vision that hinted at the masterpieces to come. The Journey into Obscurity Despite its initial acclaim, The Rising Squall gradually slipped into obscurity, a fate that befell many works of its time. Art historian...