Joseph Mallord William Turner

Rendered with loose handling, Turner has sketched a view of the hilly topography surrounding Spa in Belgium: the town can be seen nestled in the distant valley where the Ardennes ridges dip. Trees and gently sloping hillsides have been suggested, Turner annotating part of the land with the word ‘Corn’ to note the local crop. At the bottom right of the sheet he has inscribed the town’s name, ‘Spa’. The municipality has historically been a site for the taking of mineral waters believed to posses natural healing and health-giving properties.

For other views of Spa in this sketchbook see Tate D28078, D28083, D28086–D28092, D28107–D28116; Turner Bequest CCLXXXVII 19, 21a, 23–6, 34a–39a.