Turner painting arrives in Margate for anniversary

An oil sketch created by JMW Turner on Margate's seafront is about to go on display in the Kent town to mark 250 years since artist's birth.

Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate will be on show at Turner Contemporary from Tuesday on loan from Tate Britain until April 2026.

The Thanet gallery, built near the spot where the celebrated artist loved to paint the sea, was named after him when it opened in 2011.

A Turner Contemporary spokesperson said the painting was a "rare opportunity to experience one of Turner's masterful depictions of the Kent coastline, reinforcing the gallery's deep connection to his legacy".

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in London on 23 April 1775 and was considered one of the greatest Romantic artists, famous for his landscapes and seascapes.

Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate, painted around 1840, "captures the raw energy of a stormy sea viewed safely from the shore", according Turner Contemporary.

"Looking east towards the Stone Pier and lighthouse, the composition suggests an unseen vessel battling the turbulent waters.

"Executed during a period of experimentation, the wide landscape format heightens the drama and emotional intensity of the scene, exemplifying Turner's fascination with the sea and coastal landscapes."

Art historian Ian Warrell has penned an essay accompanying the display, exploring the historical context, technical aspects, and emotional resonance of the painting.

Other events have been announced to mark Turner 250 in Margate.

On Turner's birthday, 23 April, a projection of Dame Tracey Emin's A Poem, her "love letter to JMW Turner", will illuminate the Turner Contemporary building.

Emin, one of Margate's most celebrated contemporary artists, has said she finds "deep inspiration in Turner's emotive use of light and atmosphere".

The projection will serve as both a "tribute to Turner and a testament to Margate's thriving contemporary art scene", according to the gallery.

Turner Contemporary is launching a free JMW Turner schools' resource, allowing students to explore Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate during their walk between Margate train station and the gallery.

The gallery will also host a free exhibition this summer showcasing works by young Kent artists inspired by Turner's painting.

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