Joseph Mallord William TurnerFull-length Study of the Vatican Discobolus ?1791

This is presumably an unfinished outline study; see also the outline drawing on the verso (D40219), which has added tone applied with the stump. In the present case, the subject was outlined in faint pencil before being strengthened with chalk, or possibly a softer pencil. The Discobolus is one of the most famous works of Greek sculpture from the fifth century BC, the bronze original by Myron being known by several Roman copies in marble; one is in the Vatican Museum, Rome; another, acquired in Italy by Charles Townley, was acquired as part of Townley’s collection by the British Museum, London. Another drawing of the Discobolus, made later in Turner’s time at the Plaister Academy, is Tate D00067 (Turner Bequest V O).

Technical notes:

The white wove paper bears the watermark ‘J WHATMAN’. This paper, frequently used by Turner, was made by James Whatman at his Turkey Mill, Maidstone, Kent. Peter Bower suggests that the sheet was probably from the same batch as Tate D00065 (Turner Bequest V M), also from this series of studies after the Antique. The edges of the sheet have been damaged by the use of Scotch tape.