Joseph Mallord William Turner

A large number of studies from the Naples: Rome C. Studies sketchbook represent variant views of the Roman Campagna, the area of countryside encircling the outskirts of the Eternal City (Tate D16122–D16139; Turner Bequest CLXXXVII 34–51). This sketch depicts the view looking north across the Campagna from Monte Parioli, the hill to the west of the Fontana dell’Acqua Acetosa, now the location of the Villa Glori park. The River Tiber stretches across the centre of the composition in the middle distance, and snakes its way east towards the distant range of mountains. Beside the bank on the far left-hand side is the Torre Lazzaroni, a medieval tower erected over the remains of a Roman tomb, which lies half a mile upstream from Ponte Molle.1 A further sketch can be found on folio 48 (D16136). There is a second tower visible in the distance in the centre which is possibly the Tor di Quinto. The composition is also repeated with more detail in the Small Roman C. Studies sketchbook (Tate D16442; Turner Bequest CXC 32).

Verso:

Blank, save for being stamped in black ‘CLXXXVII 49’ and Turner Bequest monogram bottom left