Joseph Mallord William Turner

The subject of this sketch is the view from the Villa Medici on the Pincian Hill, looking south towards the Church of Trinità dei Monti and the Spanish Steps. Amongst the buildings in the background can be seen, from left to right: the Quirinal Palace; the church and bell-tower of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte; the Torre delle Milize; the dome of Santissimo Nome di Maria; and the Capitoline. This prospect was one of the most popular and spectacular in Rome and Turner had noted its significance in his notes from A Classical Tour Through Italy by Rev. John Chetwode Eustace, compiled in the Italian Guide Book sketchbook (see Tate D13944; CLXXII 7a).1 Similar views can be found in the Vatican Fragments sketchbook (Tate D15242; Turner Bequest CLXXX 77a), the St Peter’s sketchbook (Tate D16308; Turner Bequest CLXXXVIII 82a) and in the Roman C. Studies sketchbook (Tate D16331 and D16340; Turner Bequest CLXXXIX 5 and 14).

Like many drawings within this sketchbook, the composition has been executed over a washed grey background. Turner has created highlights within the work by rubbing and scratching through the grey watercolour wash to reveal the white paper beneath.