Joseph Mallord William Turner

Lake Geneva, with the Dent d’Oche, from above Lausanne

1841

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Lausanne Sketchbook
Medium: Graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 235 × 338 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D33534
Turner Bequest CCCXXXIV 10

Display caption

An example of Ruskin's occasionally idiosyncratic (and provocative) judgement can be found in his comments on this watercolour, which he thought was 'Out and out the worst sketch in the whole series; disgracefully careless and clumsy, but too beautiful in subject to be left out. Interesting also in its noticing of the long cypress-like lines of reflection, cast down so unaccountably from the crags. I am nearly certain Turner made the sketch on account of the curious echo which these reflections give to the cypresses'.

Gallery label, August 2004

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