Conserving the Watercolours of J.M.W. Turner

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inChasingArt, Joseph Mallord William Turner, National Galleries Scotland, WatercolourTags:, , , ,

J.M.W Turner and the Vaughan Bequest

Henry Vaughan was a prominent and philanthropic Victorian art collector, having inherited a substantial fortune from his father, a wealthy hat maker. His encounter with JMW Turner in the 1840s spurred his passion for the artist’s drawings and watercolors, resulting in an extensive collection that spanned Turner’s entire career. Influenced by John Ruskin’s advocacy for public art bequests, Vaughan generously donated pieces to various museums and galleries throughout Britain, including the National Galleries of Scotland.

Harbour View by Joseph Mallord William Turner (Creative Commons CC by NC National Galleries Scotland.) This harbour view may depict Margate on the Kent coast in south-east England, one of Turner’s favourite places

Henry Vaughan made a significant contribution to Scotland’s National Collection in 1900. His donation of 38 watercolours by J.M.W. Turner was accompanied by a stipulation that they be exhibited to the public free of charge during the month of January each year. This careful curation has played a crucial role in preserving the spectacular colour and vibrancy of these works, ensuring their lasting impact for generations to come.


One significant aspect of Vaughan’s legacy was his awareness of the need to preserve watercolours, which are prone to fading if overexposed to light. That is why he specified that the watercolours should be “exhibited to the public all at one time free of charge during the month of January,” while at all other times they were to be stored in a dedicated cabinet in the Print Room.

Senior Paper Conservator James Berry demonstrates the detrimental effects of light on watercolors – Preserving Watercolors

Conservator James Berry: Preserving Watercolors

The Early Life of Henry Vaughan

Henry Vaughan, born on 17 April 1809 in Southwark, London, was brought up in a Quaker household alongside his elder brother George and sister Mary. Their father, George Vaughan, was a prosperous hat manufacturer. Henry received his education at a school in Higham Hill, Walthamstow, under the guidance of Eliezer Cogan. Notably, one of his fellow pupils at the school was none other than Benjamin Disraeli.

Tragedy struck in 1828 with the passing of Henry’s father, leaving him a considerable inheritance. Despite leading a seemingly self-indulgent life, Henry later established himself as an exemplary art collector and a remarkably generous philanthropist, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of art and culture.

Loch Coruisk, Skye by Joseph Mallord William Turner (Creative Commons CC by NC National Galleries Scotland),  This work was engraved in 1834 and published in Scott’s Poetical Works, in the volume containing his poem The Lord of the Isles.

Art Collectors & Benefactors

Art collectors and benefactors play a pivotal role in promoting art by providing crucial support for artists, preserving artistic legacies, and fostering public access to art. Their contributions help to sustain and elevate the cultural landscape by safeguarding the works of artists, ensuring their preservation for future generations. By acquiring and maintaining art collections, they prevent the loss of significant cultural treasures and encourage innovation within the art world. Their financial support of artists encourage innovation within the art world, fostering creativity and cultural experiences for future generations.

Through purchases and patronage, art collectors provide financial stability for artists, enabling them to continue creating and contributing to the art world. They facilitate public access to art by often donating or loaning their collections to museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. This allows a wider audience to appreciate and engage with diverse works of art. They encourage innovation within the art world, fostering creativity and cultural experiences for future generations.

Art collectors and benefactors nurture the vitality and accessibility of art, enriching cultural fabric of society.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

24 thoughts on “Conserving the Watercolours of J.M.W. Turner”

  1. I was wondering about watercolour works.

    Thanks to this article, now I know. It’s one thing to restore an oil, but a water colour seems an impossibility.

    The video is informative, thank you.

    Yes, Rebecca, art collectors and patrons have helped throughout time.

    Still, there were and still aren’t enough. Much has been lost. I suppose that makes what is left all that much more precious.

    I had a 3 day business affair in NYC, about 18 years ago. The person I was working with, had been a personal friend of Andy Warhol.

    She told me a disturbing story of how at the moment of his death, his “friends” swooped in like locusts and took a lot of his collections and works.

    What a memory that is!

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    1. What a horrific act of vandalism!!! It must be very difficult to find true friendship among sycophants who look for ways to take advantage!!!

      Thank you for mentioning Andy Warhol, Resa. I have been wanting to explore his art and his life story in more detail. He had a revolutionary approach to popular culture and consumerism and challenged traditional notions of art by elevating everyday objects and celebrities to the status of high art.

      I agree that so much of human creativity has been lost through destructive action or dismissive attitudes. I am thankful for those who see the need for remembering. You are one of those rare talents who understand how important it is to support and encourage creative endeavours.

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      1. Yes, it was a terrible thing. How fortunate I was to have met this person, and for her to relate her stories about being a street kid, and being taken in by the art crowd in NYC at the time. She was very young.

        Yes, I have gained a new appreciation for Andy Warhol. You know he began drawing fashion ads?

        Speaking of remembering… I saw the show today “Making Her Mark”.
        I’m high as a kite.
        I’ll be sending you an email about an idea I have for Rebecca Budd from “Chasing Art” as a guest on my Glam blog.

        You would have been palpitating the entire time at the show. I was. WOW!!!!!!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. HI Rebecca, I’ve never considered that watercolours will fade with time. The same can be said, I’m sure, of pencil crayons and even oil pastels. I can see when I look at famous works, including many of van Gogh’s early works, how they have changed and faded with time.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Robbie. I just received a parcel of photos that date back to the 1910’s from a distant cousin that heard of my interest in preserving family history. I ask myself, “How do I care for the precious photos?” Do I digitize them? Place them in special folders? Archiving is not an easy process. I am grateful for the art galleries and museums for preserving our histories and artworks.

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    1. I continue to learn and learn and learn, Colleen. I did not know about the fading process either. What I found interesting is the stipulations for viewing. How wonderful that everyone can see them without paying an entrance fee.

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  4. An eye opening and very interesting post, Rebecca – something I’ve never considered before now.
    It does stand to reason that watercolours would and do fade over time. The hand of fate played a timely card for Turner’s paintings.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I am so pleased that you stopped by, Carolyn. I agree – Turner’s paintings found a good home thanks to the efforts of someone who loved art. This was the first time that I had heard that water colours fade with time and exposure to light.

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    1. I am so pleased you stopped by, Liz. I love looking behind the scenes of an art gallery or museum. The tasks of archiving and preservation are not readily visible when we enter an art gallery. There are so many people who work diligently to safeguard our history. I am especially interested in how digitalization and AI will enhance these endeavours.

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. I have been following AI for a few years. Without question, AI has become deeply embedded in our culture, influencing various aspects of our daily lives. From personalized recommendations on streaming platforms to voice assistants in our homes (I have become used to Alexa and Siri) , AI has seamlessly integrated into our routines. In healthcare, AI aids in diagnostics and treatment plans, while in finance, it powers fraud detection systems (I was in banking before computers – YIKES). AI plays a significant role in social media algorithms, shaping the content we see. As AI continues to advance, its presence in our culture will only grow stronger. We live in very interesting times. But then, so did the candle makers when lightbulbs were developed. The question I ask myself: how do I respond?

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