Joseph Mallord William Turner

Sunset (?or Moonrise) over a Calm Sea with a Sailing Vessel, and the Coast of Kent with Reculver Church in the Distance

1796–7

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Not on display

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Wilson Sketchbook
Medium: Gouache, graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 93 × 113 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D01231
Turner Bequest XXXVII 114

Catalogue entry

It has been assumed that this study, made with the page turned horizontally, shows a sunset; but it is equally likely to show the grand rise of a full moon, which would be more consistent with the eastward looking view here: the north coast of Kent on the right, and the estuary of the Thames, with perhaps a portion of the Essex coast to the left. This is the last of a sequence of subjects presumably made around Margate; see under folio 52 verso (D01223; Turner Bequest XXXVII 106).

For Reculver see the sketchbook’s Introduction and another view of the church in the contemporary Studies near Brighton sketchbook (Tate D00731; Turner Bequest XXX 2).

Andrew Wilton
September 2012

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