So far, over 24,000 visitors have marvelled at the compelling exhibit centring around Joseph Mallord William Turner’s revered painting, The Fighting Temeraire (1839). This is the piece the British public once voted as their favourite, and it’s not hard to see why.
This rendering of an old warship is part of National Treasures, a celebratory programme marking the National Gallery’s 200th anniversary.
Julie Milne, the Chief Curator of Art Galleries for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, spoke on the importance of the exhibition: “Turner: Art, Industry & Nostalgia showcases one of Turner’s greatest masterpieces at the Laing Art Gallery, which provides us with the opportunity to explore the painting’s – and Turner’s – connections to the North East.
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“We hope that the themes of industry connect with people’s shared histories and lived experience, celebrate our cultural heritage, and reflect on what is important to us individually and collectively.
“We are delighted that over 24,000 people have seen the exhibition so far and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors before the exhibition closes on September 7.”
Also featured are pieces by John Constable, James McNeill Whistler, L.S. Lowry, Tacita Dean, and photographers John Kippin and Chris Killip.
A crucial theme of the exhibition lies in the connection between The Fighting Temeraire and the history of Tyneside.
The gallery showcases Turner’s several North East views, including striking representations of Holy Island in Northumberland and Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Also on show are large vessels like warships that recur in Turner’s body of work.
The amounts of detail extend to the Industrial Revolution connections between the River Thames and Tyne, revealing the profound impression steam power left on the artist.
A scene with two smoke-filled canvases uncovers Turner’s preoccupation with the atmospheric effects brought on by the new age of steam technology.
Further adding depth to the theme of industry and nostalgia is a 2010 video piece by John Kippin, showing the Tyneside-built warship the Ark Royal on its final journey.
The video, along with 19 other pieces, unravels the story of the industrial landscape.