Views near Birmingham

1830

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Birmingham and Coventry Sketchbook
Medium: Graphite on paper
Dimensions: Support: 110 x 68 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D22328
Turner Bequest CCXL 3 a

Catalogue entry

There are probably five separate views here, made with the page turned vertically. The top two are variant prospects of Birmingham, with distant spires on the horizon between buildings and trees. Across the middle appears to be a single sketch with what seems to be a church tower on the left and a building or complex of buildings, possibly industrial, on the right. Below are two more views of urban buildings: the upper of the two may show terraced houses or warehouses with industrial buildings including a conical chimney to their right; the lower may show terraced housing or warehouses alone.

All the drawings were probably made in quick succession in the same locality. The surroundings were evidently rural enough for Turner to make notes of a pond and a boy tending pigs.

For other Birmingham views, see under the recto (D22327).

Matthew Imms
August 2013

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