Joseph Mallord William Turner

This is a prospect of Berlin, rendered in three instalments. The Marienkirche (labelled ‘Mar’ by Turner), Cathedral and Schloss (labelled ‘Pal’ for ‘palace’) can all be seen.

Schinkel’s Liberation Monument in Kreuzberg is also pictured. This memorial was erected in 1821 to mark Prussian lives lost during the Wars of Liberation (1813–15). Turner has made note of three of the monument’s decorations commemorating: the Battle of Großgörschen (2 May 1813) transcribed by the artist as ‘Gross | Goerschen | 12 May’; the Battle of Großbeeren (23 August 1813) rendered as ‘Gross | Berlin | 23 Ags | 1813’ and finally the Battle of Dennewitz (6 September 1813) transcribed as ‘Donnewitz 6 S’. See also Tate D31060; Turner Bequest CCCVII 21.

For other sketches of Berlin see Tate D21045–D31082; Turner Bequest CCCVII 13a–32.