Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
- Medium
- Watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 242 × 311 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
- Reference
- D36142
Turner Bequest CCCLXIV 288
Display caption
In 1842 Turner set out to obtain commissions for a group of ten watercolours based on the sketches he had made on his journey to Switzerland the previous year. The 'sample studies' included in this exhibition were intended to give Turner's prospective clients some idea of the more developed watercolours he hoped to complete and sell. All but two of the 1842 watercolours were of Swiss subjects, the exceptions being the views of 'Coblenz' (see no.8) and 'Constance'. The glowing stillness of this study failed to tempt any of his patrons to give Turner a commission. Nevertheless, Turner worked up a watercolour for his agent, Thomas Griffith, who later sold it to Ruskin (now in York City Art Gallery).
Gallery label, August 2004
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