Joseph Mallord William Turner

As with folio two verso (Tate D28045; Turner Bequest CCLXXXVII 2a) this sketch forms the basis of a gouache, pen and ink and watercolour drawing on blue paper (Tate D24590; Turner Bequest CCLIX 25) of Louvain Town Hall and St Peter’s Church. At the foot of St Peter’s is a line of picturesque Flemish houses, diminutive in scale when set against the lofty flying buttresses and choir of the church. Built in the Brabantine Gothic style in the fifteenth century, St Peter’s is neighbour to the equally jewel-like Late Gothic Town Hall or ‘Stadhuis’ of Louvain represented by Turner at the left.

For other views of Louvain in this sketchbook see Tate D28046, D28049–D28050, D28054, D28059–D28064; Turner Bequest CCLXXXVII 3, 4a–5, 7, 9a–12. For a further colour drawing of Louvain executed in 1839 in gouache, pen and ink, and watercolour on blue paper see Tate D20263; Turner Bequest CCXXII D.