Joseph Mallord William Turner

The Alps (The Alps at Daybreak), for Rogers’s ‘Poems’

c.1830–2

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display

Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Watercolours Related to Samuel Rogers’s Poems
Medium
Watercolour on paper
Dimensions
Support: 241 × 302 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D27701
Turner Bequest CCLXXX 184

Display caption

In this design for Rogers's 'Poems', Turner brilliantly exploits the potential of the vignette form. The edges of the subject merge with the white of the paper, helping to expand the image ever outwards, and create the impression of a limitless and dazzling snow-filled landscape beyond. The chamois are said to have caused Turner some trouble, and to have been completely redrawn by Edward Goodall when translating the design into an engraving (no.13).

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Catalogue entry

Explore

You might like

Left Right

In the shop

Browse the shop