WHAT? Turner and Bonington: Watercolours from the Wallace Collection 

WHERE? The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U3BN

WHEN? Now until 21st April.  Free to visit

WHY GO?  For epic landscapes. We all revere the renowned Turner, but what do we know about his lesser known contemporary artist, Richard Parkes Bonington?  A whole lot more when we see these two complimentary artists side by side in this sublime little exhibition of just ten artworks. 

Both had an exceptional eye for capturing landscapes in delicate watercolours at just the right time. Watercolours were gradually becoming fashionable, as the Society for Painters of Watercolours had just been founded in 1804. 

The rest is history, since Turner went on to make his name creating around 1,600 more watercolours throughout his long career. 

Sadly Nottingham born Bonington, who emigrated to France as a teenager and quickly garnered fame as a talented Romantic landscape painter, had his artistic career cut short by dying of tuberculosis at the early age of 26. 

Showcasing both artists’ contrasting countries and vistas, Turner’s beaches of Scarborough vie with Bonington’s beloved Normandy seascapes, but both artists share an overwhelming passion for creating atmosphere through light and colour. 

Because of light sensitivity, these delicate watercolours have not been shown for 17 years, what a scoop therefore to see them together at The Wallace, and even better, for free!

IN THE KNOW  The glorious Wallace Collection is a unique gallery cum stately London home and this gem of a little exhibition is displayed in the new intimate Housekeepers Room, a special gallery space designed to highlight specific artworks not generally on show throughout the main collections.