'Two Sketches of the So-Called Temple of Vesta, Tivoli', Joseph Mallord William Turner

Artwork details

Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775‑1851)

Title

Two Sketches of the So-Called Temple of Vesta, Tivoli

From Tivoli to Rome Sketchbook

Turner Bequest CLXXIX

Date 1819

MediumGraphite on paper

Dimensionssupport: 186 x 112 mm

Collection

Tate

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

Reference

D14939

Turner Bequest CLXXIX 4

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

Turner's sketchbooks

View this artwork in the Tivoli to Rome Sketchbook

Catalogue entry

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851

Folio 4 Recto:

Two Sketches of the So-Called Temple of Vesta, Tivoli 1819

D14939
Turner Bequest CLXXIX 4

Pencil on white wove paper, 186 x 112 mm
Inscribed by ?John Ruskin in blue ink ‘4’ top left, ascending left-hand edge
Stamped in black ‘CLXXIX 4’ top right, ascending left-hand edge

Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856

References

The so-called Temple of Vesta is an ancient circular edifice dating from the first century BC which stands on the brink of the gorge at the northern edge of Tivoli. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it represented an important site for the study of classical architecture and was one of the most popular motifs for artists visiting Italy. This page contains two sketches depicting the ruin from different angles. The semi-circle of surviving Corinthian columns incorporates ten remaining from the original eighteen, whilst the fragment visible in the centre is the remains of the cella, or inner chamber. Turner made a large number of studies of the temple from a variety of angles. For a full discussion see folio 2 (D14935).

Nicola Moorby
January 2010

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.