Joseph Mallord William Turner

Finberg listed this as one of 22 leaves from this sketchbook found ‘in a parcel labelled by Mr. Ruskin – “M. 16. Leaves of S. 229. Laid down.” They have been mounted on cartridge by Mr. Ruskin.’ Evidently, Ruskin isolated these drawings because they were pencil outlines, without the additions of chalk or gouache found elsewhere in the sketchbook.

This seems to be another version, with slightly different foreground and trees, of the subject drawn elsewhere in the sketchbook; in another outline (D04541; Turner Bequest LXXIV 48) and a more finished tonal treatment (D04552; Turner Bequest LXXIV 59). It is the only one of the three to have any previous identification as Martigny but as noted in this catalogue, the inscription on D04552 might offer further corroboration. See notes to the other drawings for the connection with a watercolour once in the collection of John Ruskin (Wolverhampton Art Gallery)1 whose original title is unrecorded2 but which Ruskin variously named ‘Italy of the Olden Time’, ‘Dark Pastoral’ and ‘Scene in Savoy’.

Verso:

Laid down