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Painted Victorian cities at night in rain and moonlight so well that Whistler said he had invented nocturnes first.

Where to see John Atkinson Grimshaw
Ranked by works you can see in person.
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16 works
Leeds Art Gallery
Leeds, United Kingdom
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6 works
Kirklees Museums and Galleries
Kirklees, United Kingdom
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5 works
Scarborough Art Gallery
Scarborough, United Kingdom
Also here (3)
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5 works
Grundy Art Gallery
Blackpool, United Kingdom
Also here (3)
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4 worksWalker Art Gallery
Liverpool, United Kingdom
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4 works
Yale Center for British Art
New Haven, United States
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3 works
Tate
Tate Britain, United Kingdom
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3 works
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Palace of Villahermosa, Spain
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3 works
Harris Museum
Preston, United Kingdom
John Atkinson Grimshaw prints
Hand-finished archival prints from John Atkinson Grimshaw's body of work.
The Old Hall Under Moonlight - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
Canny Glasgow - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
Bowder Stone, Borrowdale - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
Sunset from Chilworth Common, Hampshire - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
A Burnsall Valley - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
Poachers - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £37.00
Summer - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
Humber Docks, Hull - John Atkinson Grimshaw
From £28.00
View all 32 museums
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2 worksMercer Art Gallery
Harrogate, United Kingdom
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2 works
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Halifax, United Kingdom
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1 works
Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool, United Kingdom
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1 works
Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Kendal, United Kingdom
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1 works
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Also here (2)
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1 works
Hepworth Wakefield
Wakefield, United Kingdom
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1 works
Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
Parkinson Building, United Kingdom
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1 worksMuseum of Fine Arts Boston
Boston, United States
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1 works
Yale University Art Gallery
Yale University Art Gallery Swartwout Building, United States
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1 works
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
Lister Park, United Kingdom
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1 works
Victoria Gallery & Museum
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Also here (2)
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1 works
National Trust
Swindon, United Kingdom
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1 works
RISD Museum
Providence, United States
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1 works
Ferens Art Gallery
City of Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
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1 worksLaing Art Gallery
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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1 works
Bradford Museums and Galleries
Bradford, United Kingdom
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1 works
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Minneapolis, United States
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1 works
Cooper Gallery
Barnsley, United Kingdom
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1 works
Ashmolean Museum
Beaumont Street, United Kingdom
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1 works
Princeton Art Museum
Princeton, United States
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1 worksGuildhall Art Gallery
City of London, United Kingdom
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1 worksMerseyside Maritime Museum
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Also here (2)
Can't travel? Bring John Atkinson Grimshaw home.
See all John Atkinson Grimshaw prints →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see John Atkinson Grimshaw's work?
John Atkinson Grimshaw's work can be found in several public collections. In London, his painting *Nightfall down the Thames* is held by the British Museum. Other London galleries with works by Grimshaw include the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Outside of London, you can find Grimshaw's paintings at the Towneley Hall Art Gallery in Burnley, Lancashire; the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge; the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff; the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh; the Burrell Collection in Glasgow; the Jersey Museum and Art Gallery in St Helier; and the Leeds City Art Gallery. There are also several museums outside the UK that hold his work. These include the Rijksmuseum Kréller-Müller in Otterlo, Netherlands; the Museum Boymans-van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands; the Nasjonalgalleriet in Oslo, Norway; the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon, Portugal; the Muzeul de Arta in Craiova, Romania; the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia; and the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.Where are John Atkinson Grimshaw paintings?
One of John Atkinson Grimshaw's paintings, Nightfall down the Thames, is located in the British Museum in London.Where did John Atkinson Grimshaw live?
John Atkinson Grimshaw lived in Knostrop Old Hall, a manor house outside Leeds. The house appears in several of his paintings.Where can I see John Atkinson Grimshaw paintings?
John Atkinson Grimshaw's works can be seen at Leeds Art Gallery, Kirklees Museums and Galleries, Grundy Art Gallery, and 2 other museums worldwide.What should I know about John Atkinson Grimshaw's prints?
John Atkinson Grimshaw's prints were not as common as those of some of his contemporaries. Prints connected to the Pre-Raphaelite movement were often reproductive, photographed from paintings, and issued in sepia. The English Picture Publishing Co. published some in 1877, including *The English Boy* (a portrait of Oliver Madox Brown) and *Romeo and Juliet*. These were signed by the artist. The Medici Society later issued a large colour print of Brown’s religious subject, *Christ Washing St Peter’s Feet*, in a limited edition of 500 copies in 1914. However, these were considered poor-quality photographic reproductions. Prints were expected to be large enough to fill a wall and were often framed. Publishers sometimes used appealing titles to attract buyers, and they borrowed titles from popular works. The Printsellers’ Association, which had 126 firms in 1894, indicates the demand for prints during this period. The artist usually decides to limit an edition. Each print in a limited edition is marked with the edition number, the title, and the artist's signature, typically in pencil.Why are John Atkinson Grimshaw's works important today?
John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) is remembered today for his nocturnal townscapes, often featuring moonlight. He had a particular interest in the River Thames; his paintings often depict night scenes with a full moon dominating the riverscape. Grimshaw's works appeal to contemporary audiences due to their distinctive style. He captured the atmosphere of Victorian England, particularly its urban environments, in a way that continues to resonate. His contemporary, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, also painted nocturnal scenes. Whistler is reported to have said he thought he had invented the nocturne until he saw Grimshaw's moonlights. The influence of Dutch art was strongly felt in the eighteenth century. Dutch painters of the Golden Age had a seminal influence on the development of English painting in the following century, first in watercolour and then in oils. The art of Constable and even Turner owes them a considerable debt.Who is John Atkinson Grimshaw?
John Atkinson Grimshaw is best known for night townscapes, often lit by bright moonlight. His work features a reflection of light on the water.How much are John Atkinson Grimshaw paintings worth?
John Atkinson Grimshaw's paintings now sell well at auction. However, specific values are not mentioned in the provided text.
Sources
Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of John Atkinson Grimshaw's works across the following collections.
- [1] museum Mercer Art Gallery Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Bradford Museums and Galleries Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Harris Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum Guildhall Art Gallery Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum Laing Art Gallery Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] museum Museum of Fine Arts Boston Used for: museum holdings.
- [7] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography.
- [8] book Colin Harrison; Luke Herrmann; Joseph Mallord William Turner; Ashmolean Museum, Colin Harrison; Luke Herrmann; Joseph Mallord William Turner; Ashmolean Museum - J.M.W. Turner (Watercolors and Drawings) (Ashmolean Handbooks) Used for: biography.
- [9] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-07-02. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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