Joseph Mallord William Turner

Portsmouth: The Square Tower and the Saluting Platform

?1824

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: London Bridge and Portsmouth Sketchbook
Medium: Graphite on paper
Dimensions: Support: 160 × 100 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D17928
Turner Bequest CCVI 8 a

Catalogue entry

With the page turned vertically, Turner has recorded a view of waterfront buildings. The subject is not definite, but appears to be the Square Tower with its semaphore station on the extreme left, looking south-east from the entrance to the harbour with the Saluting Platform and the sea wall defences beyond. Compare the bottom sketch on folio 9 recto opposite (D17929).

This is one of a continuous series of views around Portsmouth between folios 1 recto and 20 recto (D17913–D17951); many appear to have been made from a boat; for the overall sequence and details of the most prominent buildings and defences, see the Introduction.

Matthew Imms
December 2014

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