See folio 52 of this sketchbook (
D04340), for Titian’s picture and Turner’s copy. His remarks begun here (written with the book inverted) are concluded on the recto of this leaf (
D04338); for convenience they are transcribed in full here.
This Picture is wholly different as to | effect the most powerful is the flesh | the drapery answers only to extend the light upon the soldier to the right, and | by being yellow keep up warmth | and mellow the flesh of Christ which | is the soul of the piece shrinking | under the force of the Brutal Soldier with | filial resignation. Yet with dignity he | appears to bear their insults while | the position of the legs indicate excessive pain and exertion to | sustain it | This on a greeny Brown | Ground Spanish Brown and Umber. The | flesh is thicker than the Entombment but | the same process. The Crimson drapery [continued on the recto] is only a wash (VR) – the green D is thicker | but Brown on [Finberg: over] it and the figure in Mail | in Black with lights. This figure keeps | the Picture from being monotonously Brown in | the Background which is the Broadest Shadow | thus is form’d the effect, as the other figs [Finberg: frs.] | have scatter’d lights and strong shadows. | The small piece of yellow causes with the | legs of Christ a preponderance of Light to the | left and the steps and the half light | the [Finberg: One] small piece of Blue is admitted | purely to give value to the warm color | by contrast and to check the Brown bnd [Finberg; ?background] by | putting it so far behind or rather protrude itself.
David Blayney Brown
July 2005
