Joseph Mallord William Turner

This page contains two separate views of Lake Como. Turner’s viewpoint for both appears to be from a boat on the waters of the lake and, as his inscription indicates, the lower vista depicts the town of Laglio on the western shore. The artist is looking south in the direction of Como. The upper vista is not conclusively identified although it is likely to represent the view from the same location but looking in the opposite direction, towards Torriggia on the left and Careno on the right.

Federico Crimi has suggested that this sketch relates to a series of drawings documenting Turner’s second expedition by boat along the western coast of Lake Como, from Como in the south to Menaggio in the north, near the head of the lake.1 For further sketches of Lake Como see folio 48 (D14234; Turner Bequest CLXXIV 47).