As part of the celebration of James Guthrie Orchar’s bicentenary, two treasures from Dundee’s fine art collection, including a beautiful watercolour by one of the greatest British landscape artists, Joseph Mallord William Turner have gone on display at The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum.
Turner’s exquisite River Scene, Le Havre (c.1832) captures the sun setting over the port of Le Havre on the Seine, France. Created during his travels on the Continent, this work was later engraved for the hugely popular Christmas annual The Keepsake in 1834. Turner, known as “the painter of light”, transformed landscape painting through his ethereal use of colour and atmospheric effects. His Le Havre series directly inspired Monet’s Impression, Sunrise (1874), the painting that gave birth to Impressionism.
Kirsty Matheson, Art Curator at The McManus, said
“Works on paper are incredibly delicate and can only be displayed for short periods, so this is a rare chance to see an original Turner in Dundee. We now can't wait to welcome visitors to see this beautiful watercolour by one of the great names of art history, here at The McManus.”
Alongside Turner’s work, visitors can enjoy West Wemyss Harbour (1866) by Sam Bough, one of Scotland’s most admired landscape artists and a close friend of Orchar. Bough’s glowing sunset over water reveals his admiration for Turner’s luminous style. A colourful character, Bough famously quipped when exhibiting near a Turner “I wasn’t going to look like a fool beside the old man!”
James Guthrie Orchar, Dundee industrialist and passionate art collector, championed both artists. His original collection includes twelve watercolours by Bough, reflecting Orchar’s deep respect for scenes of rural life, a striking contrast to the industrial world he helped build.
Display Details:
Turner & Bough: Two Treasures from the Orchar Collection
Friday 21 November 2025 – Sunday 1 February 2026
Admission is Free
Special Curator Talks:
Join Art Curator Kirsty Matheson for two informal 20-minute drop-in talks about the display:
- Monday 1 December 2025 at 5.15pm
- Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 1.15pm
Image: Le Havre (c.1832) by Joseph Mallord William Turner. Credit: Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection (Dundee City Council)
