Last updated: 27 October 2026
J.M.W. Turner (1775 to 1851) is the London-born painter of storms, fires and blazing skies. Here you will find our take on his work, the 2025 to 2026 Tate Britain show with John Constable, and the Turner prints you can buy from £12.
Our take on J.M.W. Turner
Turner and John Constable were born a year apart, and Tate Britain marked their 250th anniversaries with Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals, which closed on 12 April 2026. Critics of their day called the pairing a clash of “fire and water”, and Turner was the fire.
The rivalry was literal at times. At the Royal Academy in 1831, Turner’s Caligula’s Palace and Bridge hung beside Constable’s Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, according to Tate’s press release. The Tate show also brought back The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835), lent by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
You do not need a blockbuster to see him. Tate Britain keeps a Turner display, and Tate holds more than 32,000 of his works, most of them on paper.
J.M.W. Turner: the essentials
- Born in London in 1775; died in 1851. Dates from Tate.
- Painted landscapes, seascapes and historical scenes, in oil and watercolour.
- Tate lists more than 32,000 works by Turner that can be seen by appointment in its Prints and Drawings Rooms.
- Tate Britain shows his work in its ongoing “JMW Turner” display.
J.M.W. Turner exhibitions
- Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals, Tate Britain, London, 27 November 2025 to 12 April 2026. Closed, with no tour.
- JMW Turner, collection display, Tate Britain, London. Free.
Where to buy a J.M.W. Turner print
Tate’s own shop sells posters and made-to-order prints:
J.M.W. Turner FAQs
When was J.M.W. Turner born?
In 1775, in London. He died in 1851.
Where can I see Turner paintings in London?
At Tate Britain, which keeps a Turner display and holds more than 32,000 of his works.
What was the Turner and Constable exhibition?
Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals at Tate Britain, 27 November 2025 to 12 April 2026, marking 250 years since their births.
Can I buy a Turner print?
Yes. Tate’s shop sells posters from £12 and made-to-order prints from £30.
More from CoolCuration
- National Art Pass: discounts on big shows across the UK, including Tate.
- Great Art Explained: James Payne’s guide to how famous works were made.
- Whistler at Tate Britain review: another big Tate Britain show of 2026.
- Best affordable art in the UK: where to start collecting prints.
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Main image: J.M.W. Turner, Self-Portrait. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. No photograph of Turner exists; the image is his painted self-portrait. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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