Joseph Mallord William Turner

The So-Called Temple of Vesta, Tivoli

1819

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Tivoli to Rome Sketchbook
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 112 × 186 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D15098
Turner Bequest CLXXIX 89 a

Catalogue entry

This sketch depicts a view of the so-called Temple of Vesta, a circular ruin dating from the first century BC, which stands on the edge of the gorge at the northern edge of the town. The hasty character of the lines and the areas of cross-hatching and heavy shading suggest that Turner was sketching at the end of the day when the light was failing in the west and parts of the landscape were cast into deep shadow. For a detailed description and further sketches of the Temple of Vesta see folio 3 verso (D14938).

Nicola Moorby
February 2010

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