In the heart of winter, the National Gallery of Ireland‘s annual exhibition of Turner’s luminous watercolours often proves a restorative ritual for many visitors, and a newly discovered jewel for others.
The exhibition could only be viewed online last year due to Covid restrictions, but 2022 sees the return of ‘in person’ visits to the Print Gallery which houses the exhibition, meaning that Turner fans will once again be able to see the watercolours bathed in the weak light of January, just as their benefactor intended.
This year Turner’s watercolours will be shown alongside a group of topographical drawings by the English artist Francis Place (1647–1728).
Given Covid-19 considerations, the number of people in the rooms will be carefully controlled to ensure the safety of all visitors, with organisers encouraging those wishing to see the exhibition to plan their visits during quieter times such as midweek or in the morning.
In an additional effort to help as many people as possible see and enjoy the exhibition, a virtual version of Turner & Place will also be available on the Gallery’s website for the month of January.
A special programme of online talks and workshops will take place over the course of January, with further opportunities to learn more about Turner’s works, and perhaps glean some new insights that can sometimes be missed or go unnoticed in a real life experience. Full details can be found here.
This free exhibition is on view 1–31 January 2022, but tickets must be booked in advance. You can book a free general admission ticket here.
And in order to get the most out of your visit, check out six interesting facts about the exhibition ahead of time here.
