Art swap brings new Turner paintings to Scotland

“Exchanging Vaughan Bequest Turners is an idea that Edinburgh and Dublin have been discussing for a long time,” said Charlotte Topsfield, exhibition curator at the National Galleries of Scotland.

“We are so excited to be working together on this historic swap in Turner’s anniversary year.”

The 30 works from the Vaughan request to Ireland include a stormy view of Edinburgh, captured during the artist’s first visit in the summer of 1801, and not displayed in the city since.

Ms Topsfield said its inclusion in the Dublin bequest was not accidental.

“As a curator, I think Henry Vaughan thought in the way any curator thinks,” she said.

“He made sure each gallery had a selection which spanned Turner’s career, his technique and the places he visited so the selection in Dublin and the selection in Edinburgh echo each other in really interesting ways.

“There’s a Turner for everyone whether you like detailed work or beautiful expressive quickly-painted washy watercolours and the colours are so life enhancing in the sometimes dark month of January.”

That too was carefully thought out by Vaughan, the son of an industrialist who wanted to make sure the 200 delicate watercolours survived.