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

This page contains an inscription by James Hakewill (1778–1843), with whom Turner collaborated on the engraved print project, Picturesque Tour of Italy, published 1820. It represents advice to the artist on travelling in Italy in preparation for his first tour of the country in 1819 (see the introduction to the sketchbook). The text was first transcribed by Finberg,1 and is repeated here with minor variations:

Hakewill’s suggestions are based upon his own travels within Italy in 1816–17 and views of Bologna, and the road between Florence and Bologna can be found amidst his drawings from the time (British School at Rome Library).2 Turner’s itinerary ultimately differed from Hakewill’s. He passed through Bologna on the outward, as well as the return journey from Rome, and travelled to Florence via Arezzo, rather than Siena. He did however, opt to take the Siena road to Florence on his second Italian tour of 1828. Hakewill’s notes on Bologna continue on folios 18 verso and 20 (D13892 and D13895). The content outlined here is also repeated to some extent on folio 37 verso (D13931). For Turner’s 1819 sketches of the city, see the Venice to Ancona sketchbook (Tate D14536; Turner Bequest CLXXVI 26b).