Turner in January: Turner opens a new year of art exhibitions

As every January, the National Galleries of Ireland and Scotland present “Turner in January,” an annual exhibition of drawings and watercolours by British artist J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851).

Image: Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851), “The Piazzetta, Venice”, 1840. National Galleries of Scotland.

Every January since 1901, the National Gallery of Ireland and Scotland have staged an exhibition of drawings and watercolours by J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) bequeathed by the collector Henry Vaughan, who stipulated that the works should only be exhibited in winter, to prevent excessive light from damaging them. The National Gallery of Ireland received 31 watercolours, while the National Galleries of Scotland received 38 watercolours. The exhibition is on view from January 1 to January 31.

In the exhibition website, the National Galleries of Scotland explain that the exhibition “is a keenly awaited tradition for many people in Scotland. At the dawning of the New Year, as we leave behind the darkest days of winter, the bright vitality of Turner’s watercolours is just what we need.  The watercolours include dramatic landscapes from the Himalayas, the Swiss Alps, and the Isle of Skye. Journeying through Britain, Europe, and beyond, this mesmerising exhibition captures the life and career of this beloved artist.”