A look at the hidden psychology of renowned painter JMW Turner through his 37,000 private sketches, drawings and watercolours – an extraordinary archive that reveals the man behind the masterpieces.
For the first time on television, these pages – including previously unseen erotic sketches – are used as a window into Turner’s inner world, exposing his private thoughts, creative obsessions and emotional life.
Guiding viewers through his life story are actor Timothy Spall, who portrayed the artist in Mike Leigh’s film Mr Turner, as well as Tracey Emin, Ronnie Wood, Sir John Akomfrah, Orna Guralnik, Chris Packham and an array of leading art historians.