Joseph Mallord William Turner

The drawing was made with the page turned horizontally. Finberg later annotated his 1909 Inventory entry (‘Chiesa della Salute’): ‘from S. Giorgio’.1 This reference to the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, situated east-south-east across the Bacino, is misleading, as the setting is near the entrance to the Grand Canal, looking south-south-west to the domes of Santa Maria della Salute, with the apse of San Gregorio just to the right, and the canal stretching westwards beyond. At the top right appears to be a continuation to the right of the main view, showing palaces receding along the north side, not far west of where Turner was staying at the Hotel Europa (Palazzo Giustinian). The viewpoint is about level with the Palazzo Badoer Tiepolo; see also the view towards San Giorgio from about that point on folio 53 recto (D31894).

Compare Tate D32121 (Turner Bequest CCCXV 5), a watercolour study in the contemporary Grand Canal and Giudecca sketchbook from off the steps of the Salute, and The Grand Canal, with Santa Maria della Salute, from near the Hotel Europa (private collection),2 an evocative sunset watercolour associated with the dispersed ‘Storm’ sketchbook (see the Introduction to the Grand Canal and Giudecca book), which corresponds quite closely in its delineation of the far side of the canal.

The slight drawing on the verso (D31905) may show a view down the Rio della Salute on the west side of the church. Folio 60 recto (D31908) may be a schematic version of the present scene quickly reprised as a setting for storm clouds.