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

Turner’s return journey through France in January 1820 took him back to the city of Lyon where it is likely he stayed for at least one night. Once again he used his sketchbook to make a number of topographical sketches, particularly of views seen from the river. This page contains three sketches of the city and the surrounding countryside as seen from the banks of the River Saône on the southern outskirts, near the confluence of the Saône and the River Rhône. The two uppermost vistas look north into the heart of Lyon with the Fourvière hill on the left and the peninsula known as Presqu’île to the right. The lower prospect meanwhile looks north-east, past the Rhône to the distant Jura Mountains.

Further sketches of Lyon within this sketchbook can be found on folios 35 verso, 37–41 verso (D16708, D16711–D16720; Turner Bequest CXCII 34a, 36–40a). For views relating to the outward leg of Turner’s route through France to Italy see the Paris, France, Savoy 2 sketchbook (Tate D14071; Turner Bequest CLXXIII 51).