Joseph Mallord William Turner

Lichfield Cathedral from the North-East

1830

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Kenilworth Sketchbook
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 120 × 203 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D22069
Turner Bequest CCXXXVIII 51

Catalogue entry

Turner’s viewpoint for this slight sketch is the Close north-east of Lichfield Cathedral, looking along the north side to the chapter house and transept. He may have been moving around to obtain a satisfactory view, and finding difficulty in the juxtapositions of the roofline. Beyond the central crossing spire there are at first glance three more lightly indicated at the west end, where in reality there are only two, the central, phantom spire having been crossed out.
There is almost a mirror image of this sketch on the verso (D22070), where the building is seen from the south-east. For other views of Lichfield, see under folio 50 verso opposite (D22068).

Matthew Imms
August 2013

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