Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Château de Rinkenberg, on the Lac de Brienz, Switzerland, 1809, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.388.

CINCINNATI, OH.- Celebrate the 250th anniversary of Joseph Mallord William Turner’s birth by seeing twelve of his watercolors from the Taft Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum. On view at the Taft Museum of Art March 1–June 15, 2025, J. M. W. Turner: Watercolor Horizons is the first exhibition to bring together the entirety of the two museums’ luminous works by Turner in this medium.

Considered one of Britain’s greatest landscape painters, Turner (English, 1775–1851) was a master of the art of watercolor. A prolific artist and intrepid traveler, he was especially drawn to mountains, alpine lakes, glaciers, river valleys, and the sea, as well as the human presence within these dramatic settings. Watercolor Horizons features views of Switzerland, Germany, France, England, Scotland, and Italy. The exhibition explores Turner’s skill with a brush on paper through these remarkable landscapes, examples of his innovative techniques, and painting tools from the era on loan from local collections.

“’J. M. W. Turner: Watercolor Horizons’ is a rare opportunity to see these treasures up close and in person. Each is filled with exquisite color and mind-blowing details that you can examine with magnifying glasses we’ll have in the gallery. Paired with a tea from the café or a family program, the Turner birthday experience at the Taft is one not to miss!” says the exhibition’s curator Tamera Lenz Muente.

J. M. W. Turner: Watercolor Horizons opens to the public at the Taft Museum of Art on March 1, 2025.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Valley of Chamonix, about 1809 or 1814, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.389.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Weissenthurm and the Hoche Monument, 1817, watercolor and gouache on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Jane Taft Ingalls, 1962.8.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Folkestone, Kent, about 1822, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.385.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Johnny Armstrong’s Tower, about 1832, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.386.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Jedburgh Abbey, about 1832, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.383.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), The Death of Lycidas—“Vision of the Guarded Mount,” about 1834, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.384.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Lake Nemi, about 1835, watercolor, pencil, and gouache on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.387.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), The Whale on Shore, about 1837, watercolor on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.382

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Lake of Thun, about 1845–51, watercolor and pencil on paper. Taft Museum of Art, Bequest of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, 1931.390.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Coblenz, 1842, watercolor on paper. Cincinnati Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Hanna, 1956.112.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775–1851), Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire, England, about 1834, watercolor on paper. Cincinnati Art Museum, Gift of Emilie L. Heine in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Hauck, 1940.953.