Joseph Mallord William Turner

Oxford: The Interior of Christ Church Cathedral

c.1798

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain

Turner Collection: Turner and Gothic Cathedrals

Free entry

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Architectural Drawings for Commissions
Medium: Gouache, pen and ink, graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 686 × 499 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D02348
Turner Bequest L G

Display caption

This is an extremely rare example of Turner breaking the rules of perspective to show horizontal lines parallel to the picture plane as converging. According to the rules of perspective all such lines should be represented by lines that are horizontal on the surface of the picture. However, Turner has shown the upper horizontal parts of the nave and transept sloping down to a vanishing point outside the left edge of the painting.

Gallery label, September 2004

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

Catalogue entry

Explore

architecture(41,337)
- features(8,915)
- - arch(922)
  - column(449)
  - screen(31)
  - window, stained glass(125)
- periods and styles(5,198)
- - Gothic(1,183)
  - medieval(2,331)
interiors(4,561)
- religious(722)
- - cathedral(98)
objects(23,377)
- fine arts and music(3,744)
- - instrument, organ(17)
places(41,541)
- UK cities, towns and villages(12,695)
- - Oxford, Christ Church College(24)
- UK counties(19,574)
- - Oxfordshire(1,240)
- UK countries and regions(24,411)
- - England(19,255)
  - England, South East(5,957)
  - England, Southern(9,009)

You might like

Joseph Mallord William Turner Oxford: The Interior of New College Chapel, Looking through the Organ Screen towards Reynolds’s West Window

c.1798–1800
Joseph Mallord William Turner Ripon Cathedral: The Crossing, Rood Screen, and South Transept Seen from the North Transept

1797
Joseph Mallord William Turner Christ Church, Oxford, from Merton Fields

c.1790

View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner Salisbury Cathedral: The Choir, Looking East towards the Lady Chapel

c.1797

On display at Tate Britain part of Turner Collection
Joseph Mallord William Turner Oxford: The Interior of New College Chapel, looking East

c.1798–1800
Joseph Mallord William Turner Durham Cathedral: The Interior, Looking East along the South Aisle

1797–8
Joseph Mallord William Turner Oxford: Tom Tower, Christ Church

1792–3

View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner The Interior of the Galilee Porch, Ely Cathedral

1794

On display at Tate Britain part of Turner Collection
Joseph Mallord William Turner Oxford: Christ Church, from the River

?1799

View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner Ely Cathedral: The Interior of the Octagon

1794
Joseph Mallord William Turner Oxford: The Entrance to Christ Church Hall

c.1799
Joseph Mallord William Turner Oxford: The Interior of the Hall at Christ Church

c.1799
Joseph Mallord William Turner Interior of a Church with Rood-Screen and Figures

1796–7

View by appointment
Joseph Mallord William Turner Bristol Cathedral from College Green

1791
Joseph Mallord William Turner Interior of a Church with Rood-Screen and Figures

1796–7

View by appointment