Joseph Mallord William Turner

Sea and Sky

c.1820–30

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

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Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 132 x 241 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D25399
Turner Bequest CCLXIII 276

Technique and condition

Watercolour sketch on an off-white, wove paper. There is some discolouration and localised staining, but in general the support is in fair condition. The watercolour depicts a seascape with a wild sea in the foreground made up of loose, feathery brushstokes, ranging to thinner washes and applications of colour in the background. The media appears to be in sound condition but slight darkening of the support overall may have lead to changes in the balance of the composition.

Katharine Lockett
June 2002

Catalogue entry

This is one of a large number of sketches on loose sheets of paper depicting coastal terrain and seagoing vessels in various combinations. For the grouping and dating of these works to the middle and later periods of Turner’s career, see the section introduction.

Verso:

Pencil note reading ‘CCLXIII | 276’.

John Chu
June 2015

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