J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

This page contains an assortment of inscriptions and loose studies, executed with the sketchbook turned in different ways. Orienting the sketchbook horizontally, Turner used the lower half of the page for a rough sketch of a defensive tower or gateway to the left, with a path curving into the foreground and tree-lined hills to the right. Above is another minor view of a hilly landscape with trees, accompanied by a partly illegible inscription ‘Lucern[...]’. Along the bottom of the page are two further topographical outlines, similarly rough in execution, which appear inverted relative to the views above. The accompanying inscription ‘Siena’ identifies the subject. The cursory appearance of these studies, together with their shaky inscriptions, implies Turner was sketching from a moving carriage.

The page also contains a list of place names from Turner’s southbound journey towards Rome. The list is inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation, and is divided in half by the topographical sketch. It begins ‘Radicofani – 44 | Bolsena –’ and concludes ‘A[?quapendente] | P[?ule] | M[?ontefiascone]’. Turner likely jotted down these locations during his stay in Siena, perhaps in consultation with a guidebook or from personal advice prior to or during his trip. As noted by Alberto Satolli, Turner made notes on his travel itinerary several times while in Siena (see also folios 14 verso and 19 verso; D21615, D21625), and specified ‘Thursday Orvieto’ when arriving in Radicofani (see folio 26 verso; D21638).1

For further commentary on Turner’s first visit to Siena in 1828, together with a list of relevant works in the sketchbook, see under folio 10 verso (D21607).