Get tickets now for the incredible J.M.W. Turner and John Constable exhibition at London's Tate Britain
These two titans of British painting, were not only contemporaries but also fierce artistic competitors. Born just a year apart, Turner in 1775 and Constable in 1776, they each used landscape painting as a lens through which to interpret a rapidly changing world.
Exhibition details:
- Dates: Available from 27th November 2025 until 12th April 2026
- Suitable for: All ages
- Wheelchair access: Yes
Turner & Constable's inspiring rivalry
J.M.W. Turner, raised in the bustling streets of Georgian London, rose swiftly through the ranks of the art world, defying the odds of his modest upbringing. In contrast, Constable, born into a prosperous Suffolk family, faced a slower ascent, determined to earn recognition on his own terms.
Despite their different backgrounds, both artists shared a deep reverence for nature and a desire to elevate landscape painting into something emotionally and intellectually profound.
Their rivalry was as intense as it was influential. Turner dazzled with dramatic seascapes and glowing sunsets inspired by his travels, while Constable remained rooted in the English countryside, capturing its essence with sincerity and precision. Critics of the time likened their contrasting styles to a battle between fire and water.
Commemorating 250 years since their births, this major exhibition delves into the parallel lives and enduring legacies of these two masters. You'll uncover lesser-known aspects of both artists through personal artifacts and sketchbooks, and encounter iconic works such as Turner’s radical late paintings—once shocking to critics but later a key influence on Impressionism—and Constable’s luminous cloud studies, which reveal his obsession with light and atmosphere.
This is a rare chance to experience the work of Britain’s greatest landscape painters side by side—just as they were often viewed in their own time.