The Rising Squall was the focus of a huge crowdfunding campaign when it went up for auction earlier this year
The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St Vincent’s Rock, Bristol’ by Joseph Mallord William Turner is on display at the Turner/Constable exhibition at Tate Britain, London.(Image: PA)
A leading figure at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery says she is still hopeful of eventually ‘bringing Turner home’ after a painting that captured the city’s imagination finally went on public display – in London.
The gallery ran a crowdfunding campaign in an attempt purchase a painting of Hotwells by legendary artist JMW Turner when it went up for auction in July, having been missing for over 150 years. The public contributed more than £109,000 through over 1,700 donations, which allowed the gallery to submit a ‘substantial bid’.
However, an eye-watering offer of £1.87m secured The Rising Squall for a private collector. The money raised by the council-run gallery was later returned to donors.
The painting has now appeared at a new exhibition at the Tate Britain in London showing off Turner’s works and those of his great rival, John Constable.
Kate Newnham, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery’s senior curator of visual arts, said she was thrilled to visit the painting in the capital.
“We’re delighted to see that The Rising Squall, Hotwells from St Vincent’s Rocks, Bristol is at last making a public appearance after more than 150 years,” Ms Newnham said.
“It looks stunning in the new Turner & Constable exhibition at Tate Britain, London.
“It shows how the seventeen-year-old Turner captured a dramatic view of the Avon at Hotwells whilst furthering his painting technique.”
However, Ms Newnham said she still held out hope the painting’s new owner – whose identity remains a mystery – would eventually lend it for display in its spiritual home
“We very much hope that the new owner of the painting will be moved to lend it to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Local people have already shown how much this important work means to them.
“It would be wonderful to show it here, in the city which inspired Turner at a pivotal point in his career.”
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery has been running its own exhibition to celebrate Turner’s work on the 250th anniversary of his birth. The exhibition, called ‘Prince of the Rocks’ features rare watercolours and celebrates the inspiration the artist drew from Avon Gorge in particular.
“In the meantime, come along to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery to see an exhibit of four watercolours of Bristol by Turner painted at the same time as the Rising Squall which is proving very popular,” Ms Newnham said.
“Displayed alongside Turner’s work are examples of the unique geology and natural history of the Avon Gorge.”