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

ISBN 978-1-84976-386-8
J.M.W. Turner > 1819-29 Italy and after > Thames, London and South of England 1821 ... > London Bridge and Portsmouth Sketchbook > Artwork

Joseph Mallord William Turner Shipping at Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour ?1824

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Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Shipping at Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour’ ?1824
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Folio 14 Verso:
Shipping at Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour ?1824
D17940
Turner Bequest CCVI 14a
Pencil on white wove paper, 100 x 160 mm
Inscribed by Turner in pencil ‘Red’ left of centre, ‘Gosport’ bottom centre, and ‘[?R ...]’ and ‘[?C...]’ towards bottom right
 
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
The subject of these studies, comprising three main bands, appears to be the dockyard waterfront on the western, Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, as indicated by Turner’s inscription. Hulks and warships are shown moored with boat sheds beyond. To the right of the middle view appear to be the clock tower of the Vulcan Block and the Square Tower semaphore station, to the east on the Portsmouth side.
This is one of a continuous series of views around Portsmouth between folios 1 recto and 20 recto (D17913–D17951); many appear to have been made from a boat; for the overall sequence and details of the most prominent buildings and defences, see the Introduction.

Matthew Imms
December 2014

How to cite

Matthew Imms, ‘Shipping at Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour ?1824 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, December 2014, in David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, Tate Research Publication, April 2015, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-shipping-at-gosport-in-portsmouth-harbour-r1172657, accessed 23 April 2024.