Photo: tate.org.ukTo celebrate the 250th anniversary of their births, Tate Britain will be hosting the definitive exhibition of two of the country's greatest-ever artists - JMW Turner and John Constable.
Born within a single year of each other – Turner in 1775 and Constable in 1776 - the two painters were destined to become great rivals. Turner was born and raised in the dirty heart of Georgian London, but despite his humble beginnings quickly became a star in the art world. By contrast, Constable grew up as the son of a wealthy merchant and had a much harder rise.
Photo: tate.org.ukThey might have come from completely different worlds, but they both shared a profound connection to nature and invested their landscapes with layers of meaning and emotion that captured the changing world around them.
Turner became known for the sublime scenes and blazing sunsets that he created on his travels, while Constable returned again and again to his most beloved locations, striving to reproduce an authentic portrayal of nature.
Photo: tate.org.ukAmongst the highlights in this landmark exhibition are Turner's dynamic later paintings - which shocked the art critics but went on to inspire the likes of Claude Monet - and Constable's expressive cloud sketches that perfectly captured the changing light of an English sky.
It will also explore their intertwined lives and uncover some of their unexpected sides, and share some intimate insights gleaned from their sketchbooks and personal items.
