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

These sketches depict the Scaliger Tombs, a group of funerary monuments to the Scaliger family (also called della Scala or Scaligeri) who were the Lords of Verona from the thirteenth to the late fourteenth century. The tombs are located in the courtyard of the Church of Santa Maria Antica. The tomb of Cansignorio della Scala (1340–75) is depicted at the top, with the tomb of Giovanni della Scala (c.1325–59), depicted inversely at rear. A transcription of plaques on the Scaliger Tombs is inscribed across the present folio and onto the folio opposite (Tate D31531; Turner Bequest CCCXI 58a). The full inscription reads:

‘[?Lui Primus] – AEDES – FIRMIO POSITUM – | [?Dius] – EXIMO – ABSDIS – PARETI – INFIXUS SALIGERI | HUC – TANDEM – INTER – SUAE – GENTIS – TUMLOS | ANNO MDCCCXXXI | JOANNIS SCALIGERI SARCOPAGUS TRANSLATUS EST | FRANCISCO FERRARIO PRAETORE’

‘Paul Veronese, Resting Place’ is written below Cansignorio della Scala’s tomb. Although Paulo Veronese (née Caliari) was born in Verona, he in fact died in Venice and was buried there, at the Church of San Sebastiano.

For more views of Verona in this sketchbook see Tate D31538–D31541, D31547–D31549, D31551–D31563, D31577–D31578; Turner Bequest CCCXI 62a–64, 67–68, 69–75, 83–83a.