Joseph Mallord William Turner

A Satyr Approaching a Naked Woman

c.1810

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In Tate Britain

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Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Academy Auditing Sketchbook [Finberg CCX(a)]
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 115 × 187 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D18515
Turner Bequest CCX a 34

Catalogue entry

As discussed in the introduction, most of the drawings in this book are rapid figure studies, many of which are erotic; others may be similar in intent, but are difficult to make out, and may be of classical or biblical subjects. This is one of the most explicit, at least as far as the figure of the male satyr or faun goes, as he reaches towards a naked woman turned from him. There appear to be more nymphs and satyrs on folio 29 recto and 30 recto (D18508, D18509; CCX a 27, 28), and on folio 35 recto (D18514; CCX a 33).
Verso:
Blank

Matthew Imms
January 2012

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