'The Upper Stages of the Monument, London, from Below', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

The Upper Stages of the Monument, London, from Below

From Windmill and Lock Sketchbook

Turner Bequest CXIV

Date c.1808-11

MediumGraphite on paper

Dimensionssupport: 117 x 87 mm

Collection

Tate

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

Reference

D08005

Turner Bequest CXIV 34

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

Turner's sketchbooks

View this artwork in the Windmill and Lock Sketchbook

Catalogue entry

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851

Folio 34 Recto:

The Upper Stages of the Monument, London, from Below circa 1808–11

D08005
Turner Bequest CXIV 34

Pencil on white wove paper, 117 x 87 mm
Inscribed by Turner in pencil ‘G’ beside top of structure towards top left
Inscribed by John Ruskin in red ink ‘34’ top right, ascending vertically
Stamped in black ‘CXIV – 34’ top right, ascending vertically

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

Maurice Davies relates this and the studies on folios 12 verso–13 recto, 17 recto, 19 verso, 20 recto and 31 recto (D07977, D07978, D07985, D07988, D07989, D08002) to Turner’s first perspective lecture, delivered at the Royal Academy in January 1811 (see the Introduction to the sketchbook); Turner discussed the ‘flaming ball’ surmounting the Monument, London, and the distance from the base at ground level from which it could be viewed,1 in relation to his large watercolour diagram ‘4’ showing both the whole structure and the upper stages from below (Tate D17122; Turner Bequest CXCV 151).

As in the sketch of a Gothic archway on folio 44 verso (D08016), Turner has indicated a section of the profile of the moulding at the top of the drum supporting the urn. There is a slight continuation of the present drawing on folio 33 verso opposite (D41526). For further details of the Monument see under folio 12 verso (D07977).

Matthew Imms
January 2012

Davies pp.32, 106 note 8; Davies 1994, p.290.

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.