The National Gallery of Ireland’s popular annual exhibition of watercolours by J.M.W. Turner opens on 1 January 2026 and runs for the entire month. Turner’s work will feature alongside artists that he inspired as the Gallery welcomes back its much-loved watercolours following their loan to the National Galleries of Scotland in January 2025. The exhibition is free for all to visit, as it has been since the acquisition of the works in 1901.
Turner’s work has intrigued generations of artists. Some strove to match his brilliance at capturing fleeting light effects, others worked to evoke the essence of a place through accurate representation in line and colour. In 2026, the Gallery’s annual display of the Vaughan Bequest of Turner watercolours is enriched by the inclusion of a selection of watercolours and prints by artists who looked to Turner for inspiration.
The English artist Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1821-1906) made regular sketching trips to Europe and his colourful watercolours reflect Turner’s style and techniques. The work of Brabazon and other nineteenth-century artists including William Callow (1812-1908), John Faulkner (1835-1894) and James H. Burgess (1819-1890) underlines the huge influence Turner had on his contemporaries, and continues to have on artists today. Prints by Irish artists Jennifer Lane (b.1952) and Niall Naessens (b.1961) show them paying homage to the great nineteenth century master. Together, these diverse works of art illustrate how Turner has always been a forceful presence, inspiring artists to create new and exciting work.
Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to open 2026 by welcoming visitors to the National Gallery of Ireland to see Turner’s exquisite watercolours, following a terrific collaboration with our colleagues at the National Galleries of Scotland last year to mark the 250th anniversary of the artist’s birth. This year it is special to show Turner’s dazzling watercolours side-by-side the works of artists for whom Turner has been an enduring inspiration.
A rich programme of talks and events is planned for January, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the themes and artistic techniques in Turner’s works. This programme reflects the ongoing exchange of ideas and research that support this unique collaboration and will be accessible for all.
The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for its ongoing support.
ENDS
Exhibition Listing
Turner as Inspiration
Print Gallery, National Gallery of Ireland
Curator: Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings
1 – 31 January 2026
Admission: Free
Media Contacts:
- Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Notes to Editors:
- Interviews can be arranged upon request with Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, and Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings, National Gallery of Ireland.
About the National Gallery of Ireland:
The National Gallery of Ireland is one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. Visit nationalgallery.ie or follow us on social media:
- Facebook & Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
- X: @NGIreland
- LinkedIn: @National Gallery of Ireland
Full 2026 Exhibition Listings
Turner as Inspiration
Curated by Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland
01 January – 31 January 2026
Print Gallery | Free Entry
Picasso: From the Studio
On display until 22nd February 2026
Beit Wing, Rooms 6-10 | Ticketed Exhibition
Organised by the National Gallery of Ireland in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris.
Proudly supported by KPMG Ireland, Exhibition Partner.
AIB Portrait Prize & AIB Young Portrait Prize 2025
On display until 15th March 2026
Portrait Gallery | Free Entry
William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy
Curated by Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Ireland and Alice Insley, Curator of British Art c. 1730 – 1850 at Tate
16 April – 19 July 2026
Lower Beit Wing, Rooms 6 – 10 | Ticketed Exhibition
Organised in collaboration with Tate
From Rembrandt to Matisse – A Celebration of European Prints and Drawings
Curated by Niamh MacNally, Curator of the Prints and Drawings Study Room at the National Gallery of Ireland
27 June – 8 November 2026
Print Gallery | Free Entry
Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary
Curated by Janet McLean, Curator of Modern Art at the National Gallery of Ireland
15 October 2026 – 07 February 2027
Lower Beit Wing, Rooms 6 – 10 | Ticketed Exhibition
Presented by Key Capital at 25
AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize 2026
Curated by Dr Brendan Rooney, Head Curator and Sinéad Rice, Head of Education and Public Programming at the National Gallery of Ireland
14 November 2026 – 14 March 2027
Portrait Gallery | Free Entry
Jan Steen: Sacred and Profane
Curated by Dr Lizzie Marx, Curator of Dutch and Flemish Art at the National Gallery of Ireland
21 November 2026 – 25 April 2027
Sir Hugh Lane Room | Free Entry
Turner mar Inspioráid – ón 1 Eanáir 2026 i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
Beidh díograiseoirí ealaíne ó gach cearn den tír ag filleadh ar an taispeántas seo sa bhliain úr
Ar an 1 Eanáir 2026 a osclófar taispeántas bliantúil na bpictiúr uiscedhatha le J.M.W. Turner i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus beidh sé ar siúl ar feadh na míosa ar fad. Tugadh na saothair sin ar iasacht do Ghailearaithe Náisiúnta na hAlban i mí Eanáir 2025 agus tá ríméad orainn pictiúir a bhfuil cion againn orthu a bheith sa bhaile arís, agus saothair le healaíontóirí eile a bheith ag gabháil leo i mbliana. Tá an taispeántas saor in aisce do chách, mar a bhí ó d’fhág Henry Vaughan na pictiúir seo le huacht ag an nGailearaí in 1901.
Tá ealaíontóirí millteanach tógtha le saothar Turner le fada an lá. Bhí fonn ar chuid acu spléachadh ar an solas a ghabháil ar pháipéar, rud a raibh sárchumas aige féin ina leith, agus bhí daoine eile ann a rinne iarracht éirim áite a chur in iúl trí línte agus dathanna a bhreacadh síos go cruinn beacht. Anois, in 2026, tá saothair bhreise á gcur leis an taispeántas againn: pictiúir agus priontaí le healaíontóirí atá nó a bhí faoi anáil an mháistir.
Thagadh an t-ealaíontóir Sasanach Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1821-1906) ar thurais rialtas chuig an Eoraip chun dul i mbun sceitseála agus tá tionchar Turner le sonrú ar na pictiúir uiscedhatha a phéinteáil sé, ó thaobh stíle agus teicnící de. Léiríonn saothar Brabazon agus ealaíontóirí eile ón naoú haois déag, agus William Callow (1812-1908), John Faulkner (1835-1894) agus James H. Burgess (1819-1890) ina measc, an tionchar ollmhór a bhí ag Turner ar ealaíontóirí a linne, agus atá aige fós ar ealaíontóirí ár linne féin. Tá priontaí le Jennifer Lane (a rugadh in 1952) agus Niall Naessens (a rugadh in 1961), beirt ealaíontóirí Éireannacha, ar taispeáint againn freisin, agus léiríonn siadsan go bhfuil ómós á thabhairt don sárealaíontóir go fóill. Chuaigh na pictiúir seo i bhfeidhm go mór ar dhaoine riamh anall agus mheall siad ealaíontóirí chun tabhairt faoi shaothair úra, iontacha.
Arsa an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: “Cúis áthais againn ag tús 2026 fáilte a chur roimh chuairteoirí chuig Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann chun pictiúir uiscedhatha áille le Turner a fheiceáil, sna sála ar bhabhta comhair a bhí ar siúl eadrainn féin agus Gailearaithe Náisiúnta na hAlban anuraidh chun a chomóradh go raibh céad go leith bliain imithe tharainn ó rugadh é. Imeacht ar leith atá againn daoibh i mbliana – tá pictiúir ghleoite Turner á gcur ar taispeáint taobh le saothair le healaíontóirí a ghlac spreagadh ón bhfear féin.
Tá clár suimiúil cainteanna agus imeachtaí beartaithe do mhí Eanáir, rud a thabharfaidh deis do chuairteoirí staidéar a dhéanamh ar théamaí Turner agus ar a chuid teicnící ealaíne. Tugtar léargas sa chlár sin ar an idirphlé agus an taighde comhoibríoch a thacaíonn leis an mbabhta comhair ar leith seo agus beidh sé inrochtana do chách.
Ba mhaith leis an nGailearaí buíochas a ghabháil leis an Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt as an tacaíocht a thugann sí dúinn.
CRÍOCH
Sonraí an Taispeántais
Turner mar Inspioráid
Gailearaí na bPriontaí, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
Coimeádaí: Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí
1 – 31 Eanáir 2026
Cead isteach: Saor in aisce
Teagmhálaí na meán:
Nótaí don Eagarthóir
- Féadfar agallamh a chur ar an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, agus Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí.
Maidir le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann:
Tagann na sluaite daoine chuig Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann. Is ann atá bailiúchán de shaothair ealaíne ón Eoraip agus ó Éirinn, a chlúdaíonn tréimhse ó thart ar 1300 go dtí an lá inniu, chomh maith le Leabharlann agus Cartlann fhairsing. Ní ghearrtar aon táille as cuairt a thabhairt ar an mbailiúchán agus tá súil againn go mbainfidh gach duine taitneamh as, go bhfoghlaimeoidh siad uaidh agus gur spreagadh a bheidh ann dóibh. Tabhair cuairt ar nationalgallery.ie nó lean muid ar na meáin shóisialta:
- Facebook & Instagram: @nationalgalleryofireland
- X: @NGIreland
- LinkedIn: @National Gallery of Ireland
Liosta iomlán na dTaispeántas a bheidh ar siúl in 2026:
Turner mar Inspioráid
Coimeádaí: Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
01 Eanáir – 31 Eanáir 2026
Gailearaí na bPriontaí | Saorchead Isteach
Picasso: Ón Stiúideo
Ar taispeáint go dtí an 22 Feabhra 2026
Sciathán Beit, Seomraí 6-10 | Ticéad de dhíth
Tá an taispeántas á eagrú ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann i gcomhar leis an Musée national Picasso-Paris.
Fuarthas tacaíocht ó KPMG Ireland, Comhpháirtí sa Taispeántas.
Duais Phortráide AIB agus Duais Phortráide AIB don Aos Óg 2025
Ar taispeáint go dtí an 15 Márta 2026
Gailearaí na bPortráidí | Saorchead isteach
William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy
Coimeádaithe: Anne Hodge, Coimeádaí na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus Alice Insley, Coimeádaí Ealaín na Breataine c. 1730 – 1850 san Tate
16 Aibreán – 19 Iúil 2026
Sciathán Íochtarach Beit, Seomraí 6 – 10 | Ticéad de dhíth
Eagraithe i gcomhar leis an Tate
From Rembrandt to Matisse – A Celebration of European Prints and Drawings
Coimeádaí: Niamh MacNally, Coimeádaí Sheomra Staidéir na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí i nGailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
27 Meitheamh – 8 Samhain 2026
Gailearaí na bPriontaí | Saorchead Isteach
Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary
Coimeádaí: Janet McLean, Coimeádaí na Nua-Ealaíne ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
15 Deireadh Fómhair 2026 – 07 Feabhra 2027
Sciathán Íochtarach Beit, Seomraí 6 – 10 | Ticéad de dhíth
Arna chur i láthair ag Key Capital at 25
Duais Phortráide AIB agus Duais Phortráide AIB don Aos Óg 2026
Coimeádaí: an Dr Brendan Rooney, Príomhchoimeádaí agus Sinéad Rice, Ceann Oideachais agus Cláreagraithe don Phobal ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
14 Samhain 2026 – 14 Márta 2027
Gailearaí na bPortráidí | Saorchead isteach
Jan Steen: Sacred and Profane
Coimeádaí: an Dr Lizzie Marx, Coimeádaí Ealaín na hÍsiltíre agus Fhlóndras ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann
21 Samhain 2026 – 25 Aibreán 2027
Seomra Sir Hugh Lane | Saorchead isteach