Alexander Joseph Finberg

Biography

Alexander Joseph Finberg was born on April 23, 1866, in Bethnal Green, London, and emerged as one of Britain's most influential art historians. Educated at City of London College, King's College London, and the Lambeth School of Art, Finberg developed both practical artistic skills and scholarly rigor that would define his career. His multifaceted education provided him with the unique perspective needed to bridge the gap between artistic practice and academic study.

In 1905, Finberg received the commission that would define his career: cataloguing and organizing the paintings in the Turner Bequest at the Tate Gallery. His meticulous work led to the rediscovery of numerous previously unknown Turner canvases, prompting art patron Joseph Duveen to fund a new wing devoted entirely to Turner at the Tate Britain. This achievement established Finberg as the preeminent Turner scholar of his generation.

Beyond his Turner scholarship, Finberg co-founded the Walpole Society in 1911, an organization dedicated to promoting the study of British art history. His scholarly publications, including 'The Complete Inventory of the Drawings of the Turner Bequest' (1909) and 'The English Water Colour Painters' (1906), remain foundational texts in British art history. Finberg died on March 15, 1939, leaving behind a transformed understanding of British artistic heritage and methodologies that continue to influence art historical practice today.

Major Works & Series

Literary Significance & Legacy

Alexander Joseph Finberg revolutionized the field of British art history through his rigorous scholarly methodology and comprehensive approach to cataloguing. His work on the Turner Bequest not only rediscovered lost masterpieces but also established new standards for art historical research and documentation. His founding of the Walpole Society created an institutional framework for British art historical scholarship that continues to influence the field today.

Finberg's contributions extended beyond Turner studies to encompass the broader development of British watercolor painting as a serious artistic medium. His scholarly writings elevated watercolor from a secondary art form to one deserving of serious academic attention, fundamentally changing how British art was perceived and studied. His methodological innovations in cataloguing, attribution, and historical analysis became models for subsequent generations of art historians.

Best Starting Points

• The English Water Colour Painters
  An accessible introduction to Finberg's scholarship that demonstrates his ability to combine historical analysis with appreciation for artistic achievement.
• Complete Inventory of the Drawings of the Turner Bequest
  Though comprehensive, this foundational work showcases Finberg's meticulous methodology and reveals the scope of Turner's artistic output.
• Turner's Sketches and Drawings
  A beautifully illustrated study that makes Turner's working methods accessible while demonstrating Finberg's analytical approach.
• The Development of British Landscape Painting in Water-Colours
  An excellent overview of British watercolor tradition that contextualizes individual artists within broader artistic movements.

Famous Characters

• J.M.W. Turner
  The great British landscape painter whose work became Finberg's primary scholarly focus and whose artistic legacy was fundamentally reshaped by Finberg's research.
• Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen
  The art dealer and patron who, inspired by Finberg's discoveries, funded the new Turner wing at Tate Britain, demonstrating the practical impact of scholarly research.
• The Walpole Society Founders
  The group of scholars and enthusiasts who joined Finberg in establishing Britain's premier organization for art historical research.
• David Cox
  The watercolor painter whose work Finberg studied extensively, helping to establish Cox's reputation as a master of the medium.
• The British Watercolorists
  The collective group of artists whose work Finberg championed and whose historical significance he established through his scholarship.
• Contemporary Art Historians
  The community of scholars who worked alongside Finberg to establish art history as a rigorous academic discipline in Britain.