'The North Façade of the Arch of Constantine, Rome', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

The North Façade of the Arch of Constantine, Rome

From St Peter's Sketchbook

Turner Bequest CLXXXVIII

Date 1819

MediumGraphite on paper

Dimensionssupport: 114 x 189 mm

Collection

Tate

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

Reference

D16196

Turner Bequest CLXXXVIII 21 a

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

Turner's sketchbooks

View this artwork in the St Peter's Sketchbook

Catalogue entry

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851

Folio 22 Verso:

The North Façade of the Arch of Constantine, Rome 1819

D16196
Turner Bequest CLXXXVIII 21 a

Pencil on white wove paper, 114 x 189 mm

Inscribed by the artist in pencil ‘Purple yellow cape’ beside sketch of figure top left and ‘Pius VII PM’ underneath sketch of Arch

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

A view of the northern façade of the Arch of Constantine looking down the present-day Via di San Gregorio towards the ruins of the Palatine Hill. The sketch is very rough and Turner has underestimated the height of the attic of the arch. The arch is shaded with broad cross-hatching and Turner is possibly recording the parts of the monument plunged into shadow by setting sun. On the left-hand side Turner has drawn a quick study of a man in a hat and long cape, whilst underneath the sketch he has inscribed the name of ‘Pius VII’, the Pope who was in power during Turner’s visit and who instituted the most systematic campaign of excavation and restoration in the Roman Forum. For other sketches of the Arch of Constantine see folio 18 (D16190).

In the bottom right-hand corner is part of a sketch of the Colosseum which continues on the opposite sheet of the double-page spread, see folio 23 (D16197).

Nicola Moorby
September 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.