Joseph Mallord William Turner

?Rochester Castle and Bridge

c.1830

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Identified or Likely Subjects, Possibly for ‘England and Wales’
Medium
Watercolour on paper
Dimensions
Support: 356 × 510 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D25474
Turner Bequest CCLXIII 351

Display caption

This view links strongly to the scene drawn carefully in no.57 (showcase), although Turner has here shifted the castle and town to the left. The small, pointed area of red on the left perhaps summarily indicates the low spire of Rochester cathedral. The lighting of the moon down its right-hand side indicates a sunset timing, while the fishbone-like diagonal strokes of light tone above the bridge presumably indicate clouds catching the final rays of the sun.

Gallery label, August 2004

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