Turner’s Watercolours: Scotland’s Vaughan Bequest

In 1900, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Scottish National Gallery received bequests of watercolours and drawings by J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) from the English collector Henry Vaughan (1809-1899). In his will, Vaughan divided his collection of Turner watercolours between the national galleries in Dublin, Edinburgh and London, stipulating that they be exhibited every year, free of charge, for the full month of January. Since 1901, the National Gallery of Ireland and National Galleries of Scotland have honoured this tradition.

In January 2025, their magnificent group of 38 watercolours will go on show in the Print Gallery, while they will show our Vaughan Bequest collection in their Royal Scottish Academy building.