Joseph Mallord William Turner

After a sustained period of travel along the east coast from Rimini, Turner’s route towards Rome turned inland at Ancona and began to follow a south-westerly course towards the Apennine Mountains. Turner made a number of sketches of the terrain as he travelled through the hills and valleys of the Marche region of Italy. Good views could also be seen from many of the towns and cities of the area, particularly from Osimo and the walls of Loreto. The subject of this sketch has not been conclusively identified although it may represent a distant view of Recanati from Loreto. The composition of the drawing with distant mountains and the tree in the foreground reflects Claudian principles of Italianate landscape. The French painter was very much on Turner’s mind as he travelled through this part of the country, see folio 6 (D14663).