Gallery row over display of Turners

The National Gallery was today accused of downplaying two Turner masterpieces.

The Turner Society is calling on the National to display more prominently Sun Rising Through Vapour (1807) and Dido Building Carthage (1815), which are permanent parts of the gallery's collection.

In his will, the artist requested that both paintings be hung between Claude's Seaport With The Embarkation Of The Queen Of Sheba and Landscape With The Marriage Of Isaac And Rebecca. Although the gallery has honoured his wish, the Society says the paintings deserve more prominence and the room they are in is too dark.

But National director Charles Saumarez Smith said: "The trustees and I am wholly satisfied the display meets the conditions laid down in Turner's will and allows the public to experience, as fully as possible, the 'pictorial dialogue' between the two artists."

Evening Standard art critic Brian Sewell agreed, saying: "They are hanging in a room which enormous numbers of people are compelled to pass because it's a traffic junction. More people see them than any other painting in the National." Turner bequeathed much of his work to the nation.