Joseph Mallord William Turner

Federico Crimi has identified the subject of this sketch as a view of Lake Como from the curving road which leads to the heights above the village of Menaggio.1 The view looks east across the lake towards the village of Varenna on the opposite shore. Turner appears to have travelled to Menaggio by boat before leaving Lake Como and crossing through the hills by the Porlezza road, in order to reach Lake Lugano.2 Similar views can be found on folio 69 verso (D14277; Turner Bequest CLXXIV 68a). Preparatory notes pertaining to the route can be found within the Italian Guide Book sketchbook (see Tate D13961; Turner Bequest CLXXII 16).