Joseph Mallord William Turner

Waves Breaking on the Shore

1801

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Dunbar Sketchbook
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 115 × 164 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D02809
Turner Bequest LIV 116

Display caption

Turner would have made most of his paintings of the sea in the studio, but his sketchbooks reveal his tendency to sketch from life in front of the subject. He had a great interest in details of rigging and masts and took pains to ensure the accuracy of his drawings. A contemporary audience would have recognised the visual differences between commercial and naval shipping.

Gallery label, April 2005

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