'Details of the Temples of Vespasian and Saturn in the Forum, Rome; and a Sketch of Two Religious Figures', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

Details of the Temples of Vespasian and Saturn in the Forum, Rome; and a Sketch of Two Religious Figures

From Albano, Nemi, Rome Sketchbook

Turner Bequest CLXXXII

Date 1819

MediumGraphite on paper

Dimensionssupport: 189 x 113 mm

Collection

Tate

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

Reference

D15359

Turner Bequest CLXXXII 34 a

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

Turner's sketchbooks

View this artwork in the Albano, Nemi, Rome Sketchbook

Catalogue entry

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851

Folio 34 Verso:

Details of the Temples of Vespasian and Saturn in the Forum, Rome; and a Sketch of Two Religious Figures 1819

D15359
Turner Bequest CLXXXII 34 a

Pencil on white wove paper, 189 x 113 mm

Inscribed by the artist in pencil ‘ESTITVER’ within entablature, top sketch and ‘SENATVS POPVLVS QVE ROMANVS | INCENDIO CONSVMPTVM RESTITVIT’ within sketch, bottom right in portrait format

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

This page contains studies related to monuments in the Roman Forum. The top sketch is a carefully detailed study of the uppermost section of the Temple of Vespasian, including the Corinthian capitals of the three remaining columns, and the ornamental reliefs and inscription on the entablature. Beneath this is another sketch of the base of one of the columns. The lower sketch similarly records the details of the adjacent Temple of Saturn including the corner of the cornice with the top of one of the eight remaining Ionic columns, and the Latin inscription on the entablature along the top of the temple. The full text reads ‘Senatus Populus Que Romanus Incendio Consumptum Restitvit’ [Destoyed by fire, Restored by the Senate and the People of Rome]. For a general discussion of the Temples and Turner’s depictions of the Forum see folio 32 (D15355).

In the bottom right-hand corner is a sketch of two men, one of whom is carrying a staff, whilst the other appears to be carrying a cross. Their costume suggests they are religious figures.

Nicola Moorby
May 2008

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.