Spectacular Odyssey painting on show at York Art Gallery

J.M.W. Turner’s ‘Ulysses deriding Polyphemus – Homer’s Odyssey’ is on display at York Art Gallery as part of the new exhibition Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman.

The painting, on loan from the National Gallery, features alongside Turner’s ‘The Fall of Anarchy’, William Blake’s ‘Beatrice Addressing Dante from the Car’, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s ‘Paolo and Francesca’.

Beatrice Bertram, senior curator at York Art Gallery, with J.M.W. Turner’s ‘Ulysses deriding Polyphemus – Homer’s Odyssey’ (Image: Claire Collinson Photography)

Co-curator of the exhibition Richard Johns, from the University of York, said Turner’s Ulysses deriding Polyphemus “lives on” in Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic blockbuster The Odyssey.

“Seeing Flaxman’s work alongside Turner, Wedgwood and a host of other great artists is a revelation,” he said.

Born in York in 1755, John Flaxman was one of the defining figures of British art whose sculptures and drawings were world-renowned.

Guests enjoy the Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman exhibition at York Art Gallery (Image: Claire Collinson Photography)

Flaxman’s celebrated designs for the potter Josiah Wedgwood helped shape some of the most recognisable works of British ceramic art.

The artist’s published outline illustrations to Homer and Dante, along with other ancient poets, secured him an international reputation and inspired artists across Europe.

Dr Johns said Flaxman inspired, and was inspired by, “some of Europe’s greatest artists”. “As a sculptor, designer and illustrator, he bridged the ancient and modern worlds in ways that continue to resonate.”

Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman has opened at York Art Gallery (Image: Claire Collinson Photography)

The new exhibition in York explores Flaxman’s influence on his contemporary artists including Turner, Blake, Ingres, and fellow York-born artist William Etty.

More than 70 artworks loaned from leading museums and galleries across the UK have been used in the exhibition.

Beatrice Bertram, senior curator at York Art Gallery, said: “Modern audiences tend to know Flaxman’s legacy better than they know Flaxman himself.

“Although during his lifetime he was one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, today his sculptures, monuments, illustrations, and Wedgwood designs are often encountered without recognising the remarkable artist behind them.

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“Flaxman’s ideas influenced the work of his contemporaries, such as Turner, Blake and York’s own William Etty, and continued to inspire artists across Britain and Europe long after his death.

“Our exhibition explores these connections, inviting visitors to discover an artist whose imagination helped shape iconic works of art.

“As one of the artists who is commemorated on the facade of York Art Gallery, there’s no more fitting place to tell Flaxman’s story than in his home city.

“The phenomenal range of loans we have generously received from collections across the UK enables us to explore the breadth of his artistic practice, and we are thrilled to be working with the University of York on this show.”

Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman runs until January 17, 2027, included in general admission to York Art Gallery. Visit York Art Gallery’s website for more information and tickets.