Joseph Mallord William Turner

Oxford: The Interior of Christ Church Cathedral

c.1798

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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 x 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

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