Tate Britain Opens Turner and Constable Exhibit

- The exhibition marks the 250th anniversary of the artists' births and features over 170 works, some of which have not been seen in Britain for over a century, such as Turner's "The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons". - A famous incident highlighting their rivalry occurred at the Royal Academy's 1832 exhibition, when Turner added a small red buoy to his seascape to draw attention away from Constable's adjacent painting, prompting Constable to remark, "He has been here and fired a gun". - The year prior, in 1831, Constable, who was on the hanging committee, moved one of Turner's paintings to give his own "Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows" a more prominent position. - Critics in their time fueled the sense of competition, famously contrasting their styles as "fire and water," with Turner's dramatic, fiery scenes opposing Constable's cool, humid English landscapes. - The two artists came from notably different backgrounds; Turner was the son of a London barber and a prodigy who first exhibited at the Royal Academy at age 15, while Constable was the son of a wealthy Suffolk merchant and was slower to achieve widespread acclaim. - Their artistic focus also differed greatly, as Turner traveled widely across Europe for his sublime and historical subjects, whereas Constable remained in England, concentrating on the landscapes of his native Suffolk. - The exhibition, curated by a team led by Tate's Senior Curator of Historic British Art, Dr. Amy Concannon, brings together major works including Constable's "The White Horse," which has not been exhibited in London for two decades. - The exhibition concludes with a new film featuring contemporary artists like Frank Bowling and Bridget Riley reflecting on the enduring legacy and influence of both Turner and Constable.