In 1819, at the age of 44, J.M.W. Turner finally made the journey to Italy that he had long dreamed of – a country he would later call the ‘land of all bliss’. Seeing the Light, held at Turner’s House from Friday 7 July until Sunday 29 October 2023, explored this pivotal journey through a selection of watercolours and works tracing Turner’s first impressions of the country that would profoundly shape his art.
The exhibition brought together works on loan from Tate, the Guildhall Art Gallery and
a private collection, offering visitors the chance to see Venice, Rome and Naples
through Turner’s eyes. Alongside these Italian views, works made before and after his
journey revealed the development of his use of colour and light.
Turner had spent years preparing for the journey, delayed by the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars. Once in Italy, however, he immersed himself in its landscapes
and architecture, filling sketchbooks as he travelled and capturing the unfamiliar sights
and atmosphere around him. As curator Dr Carly Collier imagined, Turner would have
been ‘feverishly’ anticipating the journey as he prepared to leave his country home in
Twickenham.
Seeing the Light offered a glimpse into the journey that helped transform Turner’s
artistic vision, revealing how Italy became a lasting source of inspiration throughout his
career.
Turner’s House was delighted to welcome visitors as part of this year’s Open House Festival on Saturday 12 September 2026, opening the doors free of charge to J.M.W. Turner’s former Georgian retreat.
Turner’s House had the honour to welcome Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor of London for Communities and Social Justice, and Fiona Sacks, Sanctuary Champion, on Wednesday 12 August 2026 as part of a visit to local organisations supported by the Sanctuary Fund.
What can J.M.W. Turner’s paintings tell us about the changing environment? Many a story. In July 2024, Turner’s House welcomed broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham CBE, who opened A World of Care: Turner and the Environment, an exhibition exploring Turner’s response to a world undergoing rapid change.
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