Joseph Mallord William Turner

This panoramic view of Rome is taken from Monte Parioli to the north, just above the eastern bank of the River Tiber. The building with the round roof near the central foreground is probably the sixteenth-century Church of Sant’Andrea in Via Flaminia, also known as Sant’Andrea del Vignola. Identifiable landmarks along the horizon include, from left to right: the Porta del Popolo; Santa Maria Maggiore; the Colosseum; San Pietro Montorio and the Janiculum Hill; Castel Sant’Angelo; St Peter’s and the Vatican. A related sequence of sketches following the course of the River Tiber from Ponte Molle to the centre can be found in the Small Roman C. Studies sketchbook (see Tate D16480; Turner Bequest CXC 63).

Technical notes:

The Naples, Rome C. Studies sketchbook was partially rebound in 1935; this leaf was perhaps originally folio 44 (see the concordance in the introduction). During the late nineteenth century the work was selected for the Second Loan Collection, a group of 62 works chosen by Ralph Nicholson Wornum (1812–1877), for display in the provinces.1 Like many objects exhibited during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it has suffered from some fading and discolouration.

Verso:

Blank, save for inscription by an unknown hand in pencil ‘[?M]’ bottom right, ascending right-hand edge