Turner's Lost Masterpiece Emerges from Obscurity After 150 Years, Set to Make Auction History

Turner's Lost Masterpiece Emerges from Obscurity After 150 Years, Set to Make Auction History The art world is buzzing with excitement as one of J.M.W. Turner's earliest and most significant works has been dramatically rediscovered after vanishing from public view for over 150 years. "The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St Vincent's Rock, Bristol," painted when Turner was just 17 years old, has now been confirmed as the master's first ever exhibited oil painting, fundamentally rewriting the understanding of Turner's artistic development and career trajectory.

This remarkable discovery began with a routine restoration project in 2024, when conservators cleaning what was believed to be a painting attributed to "a follower of Julius Caesar Ibbetson" made an extraordinary find. As layers of grime and old varnish were carefully removed, Turner's unmistakable signature emerged from beneath the surface, revealing the work's true authorship and transforming what was considered a minor historical piece into a major art historical discovery.

The painting depicts the dramatic landscape of Bristol's Hot Wells, a fashionable Georgian spa resort that flourished from 1760 to 1790. The scene captures the thermal springs at the foot of St Vincent's Rock, viewed from the east bank of the River Avon, long before the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge would span the gorge. The Hot Wells had been developed into a prestigious resort by the Bristol Society of Merchant Venturers from 1695, attracting society figures seeking the therapeutic benefits of the warm mineral springs that were believed to treat various ailments, including what was then known as seaman's leprosy.

Turner created this work in 1792 during his first artistic tour as a teenager, traveling from London to the West Country in search of the sublime and picturesque landscapes that would become hallmarks of his later career. The painting was based on preparatory sketches and a watercolor study, both of which are now held in the collection of Tate Britain, demonstrating the young artist's methodical approach to developing his compositions.

The work made its public debut at the Royal Academy's annual exhibition in 1793, appearing just three days after Turner's 18th birthday. It was purchased by Reverend Robert Nixon, a customer of Turner's father's barber shop, establishing an early connection between the artist's family business and his emerging artistic career. After Reverend Nixon's death, the painting passed to his son and subsequently fell into obscurity, with its last recorded public exhibition taking place in Tasmania, Australia, in 1858.

For more than a century, the painting was mistakenly believed to be a watercolor, causing it to be omitted from catalogues of Turner's exhibited oil paintings. This misattribution meant that art historians had incorrectly identified Turner's "Fishermen at Sea" as his earliest exhibited oil work, a designation that must now be reassigned to "The Rising Squall."

Julian Gascoigne, Sotheby's senior specialist, describes the discovery as providing "a fascinating and very instructive insight into Turner's early style." The painting demonstrates the teenage Turner's "ambition and skill" in his early experiments with oil painting, showing remarkable technical competence for such a young artist. The choice of Bristol as subject matter was particularly astute, as the city was England's second-largest urban center during the Georgian period, renowned for its wealth generated largely through maritime trade.

The rediscovered masterpiece will be displayed for public viewing at Sotheby's London galleries from June 28 to July 1, 2025, before being offered at auction as part of the Old Masters and 19th Century Paintings evening sale. Experts estimate the painting's value at between £200,000 and £300,000 (approximately €237,500 to €356,000), representing a dramatic increase from the modest sum for which it was sold just last year before its true attribution was discovered.

This discovery adds crucial new evidence to understanding Turner's artistic development and his relationship with the British landscape tradition. The painting's subject matter, depicting the geological drama of St Vincent's Rock and the fashionable resort culture of Georgian Bristol, prefigures the artist's lifelong fascination with the intersection of natural forces and human society that would characterize his greatest works.

The emergence of "The Rising Squall" also highlights the ongoing potential for major art historical discoveries, even in an age when the catalogues of great masters are thought to be complete. As conservation techniques continue to advance and previously attributed works undergo renewed examination, the art world remains open to such extraordinary revelations that can fundamentally alter our understanding of artistic heritage and cultural history.