Turner in Barnstaple

Joseph Mallord William Turner is probably Britain’s most well-loved, and well-known painter. Here in Barnstaple, we know that Turner visited the town twice, creating pencil sketches and small watercolour sketch of Barnstaple Bridge. These works are part of a larger body of work created during Turner’s sketching tour of the West Country in 1813, and the works forms part of the Turner Bequest, a huge collection of nearly 300 oil paintings, around 30,000 sketches and watercolours, and 300 sketchbooks, which are cared for by the Tate.

TURNER arrived in the West on a professional tour. Among those who entertained him with admiring hospitality, was Mr. John Collier, whom I have mentioned among my own most respected friends, as having preceded Turner to the grave. We were sailing on the St. Germain river, Turner, Collier and myself, when I remarked what a number of artists the West of England had produced from Reynolds to Prout.

“You may add my name to the list,” said Turner, “I am a Devonshire man.”
I asked from what part of the county, and he replied, “From Barnstaple.”
Fifty Years’ Recollections, Literary and Personal, with Observations on Men and Things, by Cyrus Redding, 1858.

Turner in Barnstaple will be open from July 20th to October 12th 2024. Come along and discover more about Turner, Turner’s North Devon family and Regency Barnstaple, and join in our many free activities over August.