Research Point: Artists who Divide Landscapes into Forground, Middle Ground and Background.

Claude Lorrain born in 1604 or 1605, died 1682.

It was not until the middle of the 17^th century that landscapes were considered as serious paintings in Rome where Lorrain lived.  The traditional art was either mythical or religious. Lorrain painted the Italian landscape in very conscious sections of the foreground, middle and back grounds.  As you can see in these two paintings:

 Landscape with the Heliads searching for their brother Phaeton (oil on canvas)

It has been written that Claude Lorrain did not like to paint figures and had other artist paint them for him on some of his works. (wikipedia)

 

Landscape with Castle

In this example you can see the foreground consists of the larger trees, the middle ground with smaller trees and hill and the castle and sky in the background.  

 

JMW TURNER 1775 - 1851

Fortunately for Turner he achieved financial independence relatively early in life and was able to paint following his ideas as opposed to having to paint for survival.  His early works show defined sections of his landscapes such as this painting:

Ivy Bridge 1813

The forground of rock, trees and water, Middle ground of the carriage on the bridge and buildings and then the background of the clouds in the sky.  

In this painting ''Banished from Rome'' 1838 the sections are still defined but less clearly than the earlier works.  This is a magnificent painting,  his beautiful drawing and use of colour is truly inspiring.
Turners later works show that he is not so concerned with the defined sections of fore, middle and background but more interested in colour and design, such as these two examples.

 The Slave Ship 1840

'Sun Setting over the Lake' 1840