J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

This page contains two distinct sketches. One is an unidentified landscape view, the rough style of which suggests that it was drawn from a moving vehicle. The other is a swift, but more careful study of a pair of Capuchin monks.

Also on the sheet are notes representing advice to Turner on travelling in Italy in preparation for the artist’s first tour of the country in 1819. The author of the inscription is James Hakewill (1778–1843), with whom Turner collaborated on the engraved print project, Picturesque Tour of Italy, published 1820 (see the introduction to the sketchbook). The text, which comprises a list of the main sights and attractions in Genoa, was first transcribed by Finberg and reads ‘Genoa – | Doria Palace | Durazza Palace | Serra Palace | Doge’s public palace | no art in it.’1 Hakewill had himself visited the city in 1816–17, and several views can be found amidst his drawings from this time (British School at Rome Library).2 He naturally recommended that Turner follow the same itinerary, travelling to Rome via the west coast. However, Turner ultimately opted for a different route, entering Italy via the Pass of Mont Cenis and proceeded first to Venice via Milan and the Italian Lakes, before continuing onto Rome via Ancona. He did not visit Genoa until his second tour of Italy in 1828, see the Coast of Genoa sketchbook (Tate; Turner Bequest CCXXXII) and the Genoa and Florence sketchbook (Tate; Turner Bequest CCXXXIII). Hakewill’s notes continue on folio 8 (D13873).