'Study of Masonry', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

Study of Masonry

From Oxford and Other Subjects

Date c.1791

MediumPen and ink, graphite and watercolour on paper

Dimensionssupport: 201 x 252 mm

Collection

Tate

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

Reference

D40266

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Catalogue entry

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851

Study of Masonry c.1791

D40266

Watercolour on laid paper (trimmed to an oval), 201 x 252 mm
Inscribed by Turner in pen and brown ink ‘St Vincents Tower | Naples’ top centre
Stamped in black with Turner Bequest monogram above ‘I E’ below centre
Inscribed in a later hand in pencil ‘Turner Vol. 92’ bottom centre
Inscribed in red ink ‘IE.’ and ‘<3/2>’ bottom right
Inscribed in pencil ‘RECTO | D.00005 | VERSO | D.40266’ top right

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

The study of masonry is related to Turner’s rendering of the base of the tower drawn on the recto (Tate D00005; Turner Bequest I E). The title of the drawing inscribed in elaborate copper-plate is similar to the titles that Turner added to his studies of views in the Avon Gorge in his Bristol and Malmesbury sketchbook (Tate; Turner Bequest VI; see introductory note).

There are also grey colour trials around the lower edge.

Andrew Wilton
April 2012

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.