Turner's Sketchbooks Reveal His Artistic Process
Joseph Mallord William Turner began sketching at age 14 during a stay in Sunningwell, near Oxford. His numerous surviving sketchbooks, ranging from small pocket-sized to larger formats, served as visual memory aids for landscapes, people, and atmospheres. The Tate's conservator Arantza Dobbels Busto highlights in a video that these sketchbooks show Turner observing en plein air or studying passersby. The video is part of the installation "JMW Turner: On the Wing," which was shown at the Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai until May 10, 2025, and will be exhibited at Tate Britain this summer. Tate Britain will host the exhibition "Turner e Constable" starting November 27, 2025, celebrating the 250th birthdays of Turner (2025) and Constable (2026).
Key facts
- Turner began sketching at age 14 in Sunningwell, near Oxford.
- His sketchbooks range from small pocket-sized to larger formats.
- The sketchbooks served as visual memory aids for his studio works.
- Tate conservator Arantza Dobbels Busto discusses the sketchbooks in a video.
- The video is part of the installation 'JMW Turner: On the Wing'.
- The installation was shown at Museum of Art Pudong, Shanghai until May 10, 2025.
- Tate Britain will host 'Turner e Constable' from November 27, 2025.
- The exhibition celebrates 250 years since Turner's birth in 2025 and Constable's in 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Joseph Mallord William Turner
- John Constable
- Arantza Dobbels Busto
Institutions
- Tate Britain
- Museum of Art Pudong
- Artribune
Locations
- Sunningwell
- Oxford
- Shanghai
- China
- London
- United Kingdom