Costello (art history, Rice U.). who takes pleasure in exploring the relationship of opposites, engages with Turner's history paintings and seascapes to discover the artist's notions and visual treatment of the genre of history painting, with regard to both past and contemporary painting traditions. Other themes are colonialism and the destruction of national identity as a new multi-national identity is created; the destruction and disunity that accompany the creation of a new culture and visual language; Turner's so-called Varnishing Days, when he created paintings in rapid succession for exhibition, as another example of destruction of old painting tradition; and Turner's paintings of Venice as symbols of decline in history. The volume is well-illustrated with b&w and a series of color plates. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)