Joseph Mallord William Turner

Sheet of Studies: The Head of a Youth; a Pair of Hands

c.1793–4

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

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Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Figure Studies
Medium
Chalk and watercolour on paper
Dimensions
Support: 345 × 274 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D00723
Turner Bequest XXIX R

Catalogue entry

The study on this sheet of the head of a youth seen three-quarters from behind was possibly made during one of the Academy’s Life Classes; as perhaps was the study of two hands, which might however have been copied from a print. It seems likely that this study records a fellow student at the Academy Schools, observed while drawing from the nude model. The hands may be those of the model.
Technical notes:
The paper, unusual for Turner, is however consistent with the papers he used for drawing in the Schools.
Verso:
Blank; inscribed in red chalk ‘15’; stamped with Turner Bequest monogram.

Andrew Wilton
April 2012

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