Every year in the winter month of January the Scottish National Gallery unlocks the treasures of JMW Turner.  A selection of watercolours bequeathed by Henry Vaughan in 1900 are put on display for public viewing.

Turner’s landscape and seascape compositions are centred on the study of light and atmosphere.  His brushwork varies from fine and delicate to gestural and energetic capturing the changing elements.  Shapes of boats, bridges and buildings seem to disappear and re-appear through translucent layers of washes.

I was particularly drawn to The Piazzetta, Venice, 1835, Watercolour and bodycolour with pen and ink and scraping on paper, due to its drama and energy.  The street is illuminated by a bolt of lightning as figures run for cover below an ominous sky. The domed building in the background appears ghostly adding to the atmosphere.

This annual exhibition provides an injection of light and colour into a dark winter month.