'A Cove or Harbour, Probably in South Devon', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

A Cove or Harbour, Probably in South Devon

From Devonshire Coast, No.1 Sketchbook

Turner Bequest CXXIII

Date 1811

MediumGraphite on paper

Dimensionssupport: 75 x 117 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

Reference

D08465

Turner Bequest CXXIII 53

View this artwork by appointment, at Tate Britain's Prints and Drawings Rooms

Turner's sketchbooks

View this artwork in the Devonshire Coast, No.1 Sketchbook

Catalogue entry

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851

Folio 54 Recto:

A Cove or Harbour, Probably in South Devon 1811

D08465
Turner Bequest CXXIII 53

Pencil on white wove writing paper, 75 x 117 mm
Inscribed by John Ruskin in red ink ‘53’ bottom right, descending vertically
Stamped in black ‘CXXIII – 53’ bottom left, descending vertically

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

The order of subjects in this sketchbook does not always reflect a direct topographical sequence, but this drawing, along with those on folios 51 recto and 52 verso (D08459, D08462; CXXIII 51, 51c), falls among identified views in West Dorset and the adjacent coast of South Devon, suggesting that they were made in the latter area. Here there is some resemblance to the sheltered beach harbour at Beer, although the profile of the cliffs does not precisely match those seen today. Some of the marks towards the left indicate masts, but others are less clear in their intention.

Matthew Imms
June 2011

Read this catalogue entry in full

This catalogue entry is part of: David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, December 2012.