Turner painting of Brighton bought for £225k

A painting by J M W Turner of the Chain Pier in Brighton is to go on public display for the first time in a century after it was purchased at auction by the Royal Pavilion & Museums.

The painting cost £225k after the winning bid at Christie’s in New York, which was secured largely from money donated by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Money for the watercolour, which was painted in 1824 or 1825, was also received from the Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art, while a donation was received from the Royal Pavilion & Museums Foundation, a registered charity that raises funds to support the Royal Pavilion & Museums.

The painting, which depicts the newly constructed chain pier with the Royal Pavilion in the distance, will go on display in Brighton Pavilion after its return to the city.

Cllr Geoffrey Bowden, Brighton & Hove City Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: “This is fantastic news – it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to add a work of this significance to our public collections, and to present a piece of our nation’s heritage to the city it depicts so well.

“The painting by one of our most famous artists captures all the characteristics of Brighton in a single, wonderfully detailed view and is Turner’s only known painting to include the Royal Pavilion. It is regarded as the THE defining image of Brighton in the 1800s and we are thrilled local residents and visitors from this country and across the world will now be able to enjoy it, rather than have it disappear again into a private collection. I am certain that it will prove to be a significant cultural attraction in the city’s tourist offer.”

Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the South East, added: “We are delighted to have been able to help the Royal Pavilion Museum purchase this exceptional painting by Turner. Thought lost for so many years it will now be returned to the people of Brighton where it will provide a fascinating insight into the town’s early 18th century history.”

The council has stressed it has not funded the purchase of the painting.

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Posted by on January 27, 2012. Filed under Brighton Culture,Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
  • Family Villiers

    This painting belonged to my sister’s friend. It has been in her family for many many years. It is wonderful that it has actually come back to where it really belongs