Welcome to
The Turner Society
The Turner Society was founded in 1975 and has members worldwide. It is devoted to furthering the appreciation and understanding of the art of Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851), who was not only Britain’s greatest painter but arguably the finest landscape and marine painter ever. Turner was enormously prolific, producing some 550 oil paintings, over 2,000 highly detailed and finely finished watercolours, and some 30,000 works on paper. His bequest to the nation is without doubt the greatest artistic legacy ever bestowed upon the United Kingdom (it is housed in Tate Britain, London, except for a few key works kept at the National Gallery).
The Society regularly mounts lectures and informal talks given by the world’s leading experts on the painter; it organises out-of-hours viewings of important public exhibitions of his work, as well as visits to the Study Room at Tate Britain where the Turner Bequest works on paper are held; and it arranges trips to see private collections that include works by Turner. In addition, it publishes a fine magazine, Turner Society News, which goes to all members twice a year, and it works tirelessly to deepen awareness of the range and power of Turner’s astonishing genius.
We hope you will join us.
“If I could find anything
blacker than black I’d use it.”
J.M.W. Turner
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
The Turner Society offers a full programme of events. These include lectures by leading experts on the artist; visits to the Clore Gallery for the Turner Collection in London; and trips to important private collections not generally open to the public.
Please note these events are only open to members of the Turner Society and their guests. If you wish to become a member click here.
Society Events
The Chairman’s Selection
British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
The collection of Turner drawings and watercolours in the British Museum is large and important, including bequests by John Henderson, George Salting and R.W. Lloyd. Many of these are in superb condition. Our visit provides an opportunity to see a wide range of fine Turners in a traditional print room setting.
Sandycombe Lodge, Twickenham
40 Sandycoombe Road, Twickenham, TW1 2LR
Sandycombe Lodge, the villa designed by Turner as his country retreat, has undergone complete renovation and reopens to the public this summer. The Society has arranged a special visit to the newly restored building and its displays.
‘Turner in Surrey: Pastoral Elegance’
The Lightbox, Chobham Road, Woking GU1 4AA
Peter Hall, Curator of The Lightbox, will describe the exhibits in the exhibition ‘Turner in Surrey’ which explores Turner’s travels through the county (the historic county as constituted prior to 1889). Weather permitting, he will then guide the group along the Basingstoke Canal, depicted by Turner.