Mystery Turner buyer refuses to lend artwork to city museum

THE mystery buyer who snapped up a Turner painting that many hoped would come to Bristol has elected not to lend it to the city's Museum and Art Gallery.

- ANGUS MCINTYRE

The owner outbid everyday Bristolians, who fundraised to buy a painting of the city by JMW Turner.

Instead, the gallery, right, is preparing to put on an exhibition of four rare watercolour paintings by the artist to thank those who donated to the effort to Bring Turner Home.

The council-run gallery raised more than £109,000 from over 1,700 public donations in just one week, which together with national funding and private donations allowed it to put together a £1.4m bid for The Rising Squall artwork during an auction at Sotheby's on July 2.

But a private collector won the race to secure the painting, which was rediscovered in 2024 after being lost for over 150 years.

Philip Walker, head of culture and creative industries at the council, said: "Bring Turner Home was the most ambitious fundraising campaign we've ever attempted, and we were overwhelmed by the support it received.