Turner Inspired: In the Light of Claude

See beautiful paintings by Turner and Claude at the National Gallery's Turner Inspired exhibition.

Turner Inspired at the National Gallery

Turner's daring painting technique dazzled audiences at the beginning of the 19th century and influenced future generations of artists.

This National Gallery exhibition examines how Turner was inspired by Old Master Claude's portrayal of light and landscape.

Turner Bequest to the National Gallery

Turner's first experience of Claude's work had a lasting impact. He's said to have burst into tears on seeing Claude's Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba.

When he died, Turner left the National Gallery two paintings: Dido building Carthage and Sun rising through Vapour: Fishermen cleaning and selling Fish.

A condition of the bequest was that Turner's paintings were hung between two pictures by Claude: Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba and Landscape with the Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca.

Turner Exhibition in London

Turner Inspired focuses on the main Claude-inspired themes that run through Turner's work:

• The illustration of light and air in landscape
• The effect of light on water
• The radical reworking of contemporary scenes

The show features large oils, mezzotints, etchings, watercolours and works in gouache, as well as rarely seen sketchbooks, photos and letters.