Joseph Mallord William Turner

Seashore Scene, with Figures and Boats

c.1826–40

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Medium: Gouache and watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 139 × 193 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D24810
Turner Bequest CCLIX 245

Catalogue entry

The miscellaneous group of figures here, which appears to include children, may be passengers embarking or disembarking from a sea voyage. Small boats and other figures are lightly indicated beyond. For other such scenes, see the Introduction.

As discussed there, this is one of the subjects of figures by the sea which Ian Warrell tentatively suggested as linked to Brighton around 1827, while noting that they could equally well show scenes in England or France on other occasions.1

See Warrell 1989, pp.120, 123 note 114.

Verso:

Inscribed in pencil ‘D.24810’ bottom left.

There is a border of white paper or tape, indicating that the sheet was formerly mounted.

Matthew Imms
December 2015

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