JMW Turner: In Light and Shade at the Whitworth

Joseph Mallord William Turner is one of the world’s most famous landscape artists: from his delicate watercolours to large, dramatic seascapes, his incredible legacy continues to inspire artists around the world. The Whitworth is celebrating the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth with a new exhibition JMW Turner: In Light and Shade, exploring his work and techniques.

Turner is officially remembered as a Romantic painter, described by historians as having elevated the importance of landscape as equal to historical painting, the highest form of visual art at the time. His experimental depictions of sunsets and dramatic storms were so ahead of their time that they bear elements of expressionism and even abstraction, which is all the more surprising given that they were created in the late 18th and early 19th century.

The Whitworth’s exhibition focuses on Turner’s works on paper with engravings and watercolours taking centre stage. Viewers are in for a treat because these pieces are no less expressive and perhaps exemplify his talent and incredible draughtsmanship even more clearly than his works on canvas.

JMW Turner: In Light and Shade features the Liber Studiorum – a series of landscape and seascape works published as prints in etching and mezzotint. Liber Studiorum can be translated from Latin as ‘Book of Studies’ and the collection is widely regarded as his most ambitious series of landscape engravings, central to his career and documenting his artistic interests and perspective. The collection was divided into sections: Architectural, Pastoral, Marine, Historical and Mountains which the artist noted on each print.

This impressive body of work can be seen as Turner’s visual manifesto, highlighting the significance of landscape art and now audiences have an unmissable opportunity to see the collection, exhibited in its entirety for the first time in over 100 years.

The display also features Turner’s watercolours from the Whitworth’s collection, as well as loaned works from public and private collections. It might challenge your perceptions of Turner by focusing on a less prominent aspect of his oeuvre, but one that showcases both his undeniable skill and unique eye. Visit JMW Turner: In Light and Shade to see his contribution to the history of printmaking and honour the artist’s enduring legacy.

As part of the Whitworth’s year-long celebrations to mark 250 years since Turner’s birth, a new publication will be available to purchase from the Whitworth Shop online and in store from 23 April 2025.