Joseph Mallord William Turner

Lecture Diagram 4: Two Studies of the Monument, London, Seen from Below

c.1810

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
I. Numbered Perspective Diagrams
Medium
Graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions
Support: 672 × 997 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D17122
Turner Bequest CXCV 151

Display caption

Two views of the sculpture at the top of the Monument, which commemorates the great fire of London of 1666. These demonstrate that 'the appearance of the flaming ball' depends on the position of the spectator. The distance used for the view on the right is great enough for the whole sculpture to be seen, but Turner observed that if a viewer is 'within 20 feet', as on the left, 'the vase supporting the blazing ball' cannot be seen. See no.19 in showcase for Turner's on-the-spot observations of the Monument.

Gallery label, August 2004

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