Episode 3476
Regulus (Turner)
Tue, 2026-Nov-10 00:11 UTC
Length - 2:53
Direct Link
Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.
The featured article for Tuesday, 10 November 2026, is Regulus (Turner).
Regulus is an oil painting by the English artist J. M. W. Turner, now in Tate Britain, London. It was initially painted in 1828 and significantly overpainted twice, first between 1829 and 1837, and again in 1837. The painting is based on a legend about the Roman consul and general Marcus Atilius Regulus, in which he was captured by Carthaginian forces and executed after refusing a prisoner exchange. Many accounts add that he was tortured by being forced to stare at the sun, blinding him. The painting depicts a harbour in either Rome or Carthage, with ships and buildings surrounding the ocean. It is dominated by the large white sun in the centre.
Turner originally painted and exhibited Regulus in Rome during an 1828 visit, after which it was shipped to London, where he lived. At some point during or after shipping, the upper-left part of the canvas was torn, requiring repair and repainting. The work was kept in Turner's private gallery until 1837, when it was overpainted at the British Institution during a varnishing day, an event where artists would make final revisions and varnish their paintings in front of a private audience before an exhibition. It subsequently gained notoriety, inspiring two derivative paintings and two engravings. Regulus was a controversial work, criticised heavily during its exhibitions and by contemporaries such as Turner's supporter John Ruskin. In 1863, it was stabbed by a man displeased with Turner’s technique and the artist himself. The painting has also suffered from flaking paint.
Exactly what the painting depicts is debated by scholars. Some believe the painting depicts Regulus leaving Carthage for Rome, while others argue it shows his return. Another point of contention is whether Regulus is a figure in the painting, whether it is from his perspective as he was blinded, or whether it is meant to depict Regulus's life in its entirety, conveying both aspects. Scholars have supported their interpretations using evidence drawn from the titles of subsequent engravings, Turner's other paintings, and the sources on Regulus from which Turner drew.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:11 UTC on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
For the full current version of the article, see Regulus (Turner) on Wikipedia.
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Until next time, I'm standard Amy.
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