James Pyke Thompson (1846–97) was an English corn merchant who is best known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the people of Cardiff and Penarth in South Wales. Thompson was an art collector and was a particular admirer of British watercolours. To allow the public to view his collection, he built the Turner House Gallery in Penarth, which was named after the artist Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) and opened in 1888. The Thompson family carried on his philanthropic work after his death and the contents of the Turner House Gallery were donated to the National Museum of Wales in 1921, including four works by or attributed to Girtin, most notably An Unidentified Landscape with a Distant Rain Shower (TG1763) and Bolton Abbey (TG1677).

1800 - 1801

An Unidentified Landscape with a Distant Rain Shower

TG1763

1800 - 1801

Bolton Abbey: The East End of the Priory Church, from across the River Wharfe

TG1677