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

ISBN 978-1-84976-386-8

Joseph Mallord William Turner A Ship of the Line c.1821

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Folio 82 Recto:
A Ship of the Line c.1821
D17493
Turner Bequest CXCIX 82
Pencil on white wove paper, 112 x 190 mm
Inscribed by Turner in pencil ‘Flying Jib’ and ‘Jib Boom’ towards top left, ‘3’, ‘2’, and ‘5’ left of centre, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘3’, ‘3’ and ‘4’ right of centre
Stamped in black ‘CXCIX – 82’ bottom right
 
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
As identified by Finberg, on this page Turner records the architecture of a ship of the line.1 Perhaps observing the scene at anchor near Chatham Dockyard, a location frequently described within this book, Turner records narrative elaboration alongside the technical. A small rowing boat at centre collects or deposits anonymous passengers at the foot of a ladder leading up to the top deck. The figures demonstrate the scale of the vessel, their slight appearance emphasising its towering height.
Indeed, the boat is so tall that Turner is forced to abbreviate the foremast and mainmast. He abandons the central sections, sketching only the topgallant masts in order to record their relationship with the shorter mizzenmast shown almost in full at right. The result is that, in each instance, a top platform is illustrated, positioned between two yards along which the sails are neatly furled.
The length of the bowsprit at left is extended with a jib boom and flying jib boom, both of which are named in Turner’s adjacent inscriptions. The hull is lined with rows of open gun ports, several of which are inscribed with numbers. The guns themselves are evident inside the bottom row of ports, at left towards the bow of the ship.
The stern is finely picked out, the gallery windows carefully described above a small portion of the rudder. A spanker sail is secured above the stern, fixed to a boom at its foot which overhangs the end of the vessel.
1
Finberg 1909, I, p.609.
Technical notes:
The paper is marked with dark, grey blotches in places.
Verso:
Blank

Maud Whatley
January 2016

How to cite

Maud Whatley, ‘A Ship of the Line c.1821 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, January 2016, in David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, Tate Research Publication, February 2017, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-a-ship-of-the-line-r1184771, accessed 19 September 2024.