Study Day 2 with Dr Matthew Morgan

Matthew will meet the group at the Kirker office, just five minutes’ walk from Waterloo Station. We shall then cross Waterloo Bridge: the first bridge opened in 1816 and provided a new view of London which inspired not only Turner but also artists including Constable and Monet. We will see Somerset House, the location of the Royal Academy of Art when Turner was a member, and walk through Covent Garden. It was in this bustling district, alive with flower-sellers and fruit and vegetable vendors, where Turner was born and grew up. We will see St Paul’s Church where he was christened, The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where he was a regular in the audience, and Maiden Lane where he was born exactly 250 years ago.

We will stop for a special three-course lunch in a private dining room at Rules, a historic restaurant which first opened in 1798: Turner may well have been an early patron. In the afternoon, we visit the National Gallery where we will see some of his most iconic works such as Rain Steam and Speed and The Fighting Temeraire and we will explore his boundless experimentation, fascination with light and unparalled use of colour. We will compare Turner’s works to those of some of his contemporaries and the works of the Impressionists who followed him.

Price per person: £238

Includes: Private walking tour with Dr Matthew Morgan, three-course lunch in a private dining room at Rules, guided tour of the National Gallery and a souvenir book.

Study Day 1: Turner at the Tate

On the first study day Matthew Morgan will lead a private viewing part of the Turner Bequest and guide us through the Turner rooms of the Tate Britain. View details »

Turner at the Tate & Turner's London

Our two study days marking the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth run consecutively and can be booked individually or together. Both tours are limited to a maximum of 20 participants. We would be delighted to arrange accommodation at one of our favourite London hotels, please ask for a quotation at the time of booking.

Price per person to book both days: £298
Please call 020 7593 2284.

Dr Matthew Morgan

Dr Matthew Morgan is an Associate Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London. He has worked in the heritage sector for nearly 10 years, including at Turner’s House in Twickenham, the Royal Collection and the National Gallery. Prior to that he was a Director at Christie’s, and he has taught diverse audiences across the UK.

Image: The Fighting Temeraire, 1839. JMW Turner.