Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Britain's two greatest landscape painters face to face, just as they used to be seen in their day.

We celebrate the 250th anniversary of the births of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable with a historic exhibition that brings together these two giants of the art world. Born just a year apart—Turner in 1775 and Constable in 1776—they were the ultimate rivals. In fact, critics of the time described their contrasting styles as a clash of ‘fire and water’.

Their paths to fame were very different. Turner was a city boy of humble origins in London who became a star of the art world at a young age. Constable, the son of a prosperous Suffolk merchant, had a much harder path to gaining the recognition he deserved. Despite their very different worlds, both shared a single mission: to change landscape painting forever.

This exhibition delves into their intertwined lives and legacies, offering a rare look at their personal sketchbooks and private objects. You will meet the men behind the masterpieces.

With more than 170 paintings and drawings on display, you will be able to see many of their most famous works in person. Highlights include Turner’s dramatic 1835 painting, The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons—which has not been seen in Britain for over a century—and Constable’s stunning 1819 masterpiece, The White Horse.