Joseph Mallord William Turner

Seated Figures ?on a Beach, Perhaps Passengers in Transit

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: Chalk and gouache on paper
Dimensions: Support: 140 × 185 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D24622
Turner Bequest CCLIX 57

Catalogue entry

This little group of seated figures may be relaxing on a beach or, as there seem to be one or two bulky objects with them, waiting to embark on a sea voyage. 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:

Blank; inscribed by John Ruskin in pencil ‘311 | O’ bottom right (partly obscured); inscribed in pencil ‘54–68’ top left; inscribed in pencil ‘D24622’ 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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