Joseph Mallord William Turner

Moonlight over the ?Normandy Coast

1845

Image released under

License this image

Not on display

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Dieppe Sketchbook
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 232 × 332 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D35473
Turner Bequest CCCLX 15

Display caption

In 1845 Turner made two last journeys to France. On the first short visit in May he returned to Boulogne, from where he explored the coast to the north: watercolours from that tour hang nearby in this room. In early September, his final trip to the Continent focused on Dieppe, Eu and Le Treport, during which he was continually on the look out for 'storms and shipwrecks'. This sketchbook was used on the later visit and contains many views of the castle and harbour at Dieppe. The study on this page represents a nocturnal effect, in which the moon is indistinctly seen through clouds above the sea.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.