Joseph Mallord William Turner

Inscriptions; and Female Figure

1831

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

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Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Berwick Sketchbook
Medium: Pen and ink and graphite on paper
Dimensions: Support: 96 × 59 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D25754
Turner Bequest CCLXV 62

Catalogue entry

The obscure numbers inscribed by Turner in black ink and pencil seem to be financial and may represent cheque numbers (there are similar looking figures on folio 43 verso; D25721). With the sketchbook turned to the left at the bottom of the page is a figure in a strange bending pose, perhaps reclining on a sofa or chaise longues. The pose recalls that of Turner’s unfinished Reclining Venus 1828 (Tate N05498).1 For references to other female figures sketches see folio 56 verso (D25744).

Overlapping the figure and to its right are continuations from two landscape sketches on folio 61 verso (D25853).

Thomas Ardill
September 2009

Martin Butlin and Evelyn Joll, The Paintings of J.M.W. Turner, revised ed., New Haven and London 1984, pp.174–5 no.296.

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