Como Exhibition Reconstructs Turner's Lake Stays

A new exhibition in Como, titled 'Turner. L'incanto del lago di Como e del paesaggio italiano,' reconstructs the stays of British Romantic painter William Turner on Lake Como in the early 19th century. Curated by Elizabeth Brooke, the show is spread across three venues: the Pinacoteca Civica, the Broletto, and the deconsecrated church of San Pietro in Atrio. It features 11 works from the Tate's Turner Bequest—four oil paintings and seven watercolors—including two watercolors of Bellagio from his first visit on August 20, 1819. The exhibition is a partnership between the Comune di Como and Tate London. The municipality allocated a budget of €450,000, later increased to €685,000 for transport, insurance, and climate control. At San Pietro in Atrio, contemporary artists Jim Lambie and David Batchelor present works in dialogue with Turner. Lambie's site-specific floor installation 'Zobop' (1999) uses colored vinyl tape, while Batchelor's 'I love King's Cross and King's Cross loves me, 8' (2002-2007) comprises colored acrylic stools. The show runs until September 27, 2026.