Joseph Mallord William Turner

The subjects of these two sketches are the Borromean Islands, a small group of islands located within the western arm of Lake Maggiore.1 The upper vista depicts a view from the western shore between Baveno and Stresa looking towards the Isola Pescatori on the left (also known as Isola Superiore) and Isola Bella on the right. The lower scene is too rough to be conclusively identified although Federico Crimi has tentatively suggested it may represent Isola Bella.2 Boats can clearly be discerned moored against the water’s edge on the right. The artist has employed small areas of white scratching-out to create some tonal variety and definition within the studies.