Joseph Mallord William Turner

Arches

1831

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Rokeby and Appleby Sketchbook
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 74 × 94 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D25556
Turner Bequest CCLXIV 17

Catalogue entry

Drawn with the sketchbook turned to the left, this rather faint perspective drawing of a row of arches may represent the Cloisters in the Market Square in Appleby, built by John Smirke in 1811. However, there also seems to be a perspective line to the right of the picture pointing towards the same vanishing point. This suggest that this is not a drawing from life at all, but an academic study, in the same vein as the three nude figure studies at the start of this sketchbook (see folio 3 verso; D25529). Turner was the Professor of Perspective at the Royal Academy from 1807 to 1837, although he had not lectured since 1828.

Thomas Ardill
September 2009

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