'Sections of Ruins and the Aurelian Walls, Rome', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

Sections of Ruins and the Aurelian Walls, Rome

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

D15437

Turner Bequest CLXXXII 73

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 74 Recto:

Sections of Ruins and the Aurelian Walls, Rome 1819

D15437
Turner Bequest CLXXXII 73

Pencil and blue watercolour on white wove paper, 189 x 113 mm

Inscribed by John Ruskin in blue ink ‘73’ top left, ascending left-hand edge and ‘301’ top right, ascending right-hand edge
Stamped in black ‘CLXXXII 73’ top right, ascending right-hand edge

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

This page contains three distinct views which appear to have been executed extremely swiftly. The two uppermost scenes appear to depict the characteristic square towers of sections of the Aurelian Walls, with parts of an aqueduct running over the top. The subject of the sketch at the bottom is currently unidentified although it appears to show an extensive group of ruins, possibly the Baths of Caracalla. Cecilia Powell has argued that the uneven and rough nature of these sketches suggests they may have been drawn from a moving vehicle.1 This would certainly explain the need to capture quick impressions of different scenes on the same sheet.

This page also contains patches of blue watercolour.

Nicola Moorby
May 2008

Powell 1984, p.472 note 11.

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.