Joseph Mallord William Turner

Castel Sant’Elmo, Naples, Seen from the North-East

1819

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display

Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Naples, Paestum and Rome Sketchbook
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 113 x 189 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D16009
Turner Bequest CLXXXVI 49 a

Catalogue entry

The subject of this sketch is the distinctive star-shaped fortress of Castel Sant’Elmo which stands at the top of a hill above the Certosa di San Martino, part of which is just visible on the left. Turner’s viewpoint appears to be the Montesanto district to the north-east, perhaps from present-day Via Tarsia near the funicular station. The gate visible within the slopes below the castle may be the Porta Medina, demolished in 1873.

Nicola Moorby
July 2010

Read full Catalogue entry

Explore

You might like

Left Right