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

This slight drawing was made with the page turned horizontally. As identified by Ian Warrell,1 it shows the Ponte dei Preti at the entrance to the narrow Rio del Pestrin from the Rio del Mondo Novo. The bridge is seen in the left foreground in the view south-east to the church of Santa Maria Formosa in the more detailed view on folio 59 verso opposite (D32042), and here Turner shifted his attention to the north-north-east; the houses lightly indicated on the right here are also seen on the left in the other drawing.

Immediately to the left, crossing the Rio del Mondo Novo at right-angles to the first bridge, is the Ponte del Paradiso. Turner made no note of the distinctive little Gothic Arco del Paradiso, with its relief sculpture of the Madonna, spanning the calle immediately behind him. Instead, the focus is to the north-north-east, with the Ponte Borgoloco shown along the Rio del Pestrin through the arch of the first bridge, and the profile of the Palazzo Morosini’s penthouse against the high roofline and dome of Santi Giovanni e Paolo; compare the more detailed, nearer view on the verso (D32044).

From folio 59 verso opposite to folio 61 recto (D32042–D32045), Turner briefly explored the network of side canals between Santa Maria Formosa and Santi Giovanni e Paolo; compare the sequence between folios 31 verso and 36 verso (D31987–D31996). Beginning on folio 61 verso (D32046), there are several views of the Bridge of Sighs, some way to the south, albeit only a few turns away by boat. For this sketchbook’s rather convoluted general sequence, including Hardy George’s broad overview,2 see its Introduction.

Towards the bottom centre is a brief continuation of the top of Santa Maria Formosa’s campanile from the full-page view opposite (D32042).

Technical notes:

Folios 57 verso–60 recto (D32038–D32043) all share a pale brown splash or stain across an outer corner (at the foot of the page as foliated).