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

There is a sequence of views around Castel Firmiano (Schloss Sigmundskron, now a museum) on its crag overlooking the Adige (Etsch) Valley south-east of Bolzano (Bozen) on folios 43 verso–47 recto (D31682–D31689). Folios 47 verso–50 recto (D31690–D31695) are largely devoted to multiple interrelated subjects in the nearby valley of the Torrente Talvera (Talferbach), which Turner would revisit in 1840, immediately north-west of the city; for other views in the vicinity and Bolzano’s place within this sketchbook’s itinerary, see under folio 1 verso (D31598).

Finberg later annotated his 1909 Inventory entry (‘“Turbulent ... of the Etsch.”’), adding ‘Bed’ and crossing out the last word in favour of ‘Eisach’ and adding ‘& “Borgo” (on mountain)’;1 he also noted ‘“Botzen” in distance (CFB)’, acknowledging the Turner scholar C.F. Bell, who marked another copy in the same ways, albeit omitting the ‘Borgo’ reading.2 There are five main views here, drawn with the page turned vertically both ways. The top one, with the annotations, is from the valley of the Adige north-west of Castel Firmiano, looking north-east to Bolzano; as also seen in a sketch directly opposite on D31690, itself continued a little way over the gutter onto this page, separated by a faint vertical pencil line; compare the view on folio 2 recto (D31599), continued on D31598 to show the castle towards the foreground.

The second drawing is from the Isarco (Eisack) Valley east of Castel Firmiano, ranging north-west here (possibly with rain indicated by diagonal strokes) and south-west on the opposite page, where the heights south of the castle are continued; compare the views on D31689. Below is another view from the Adige past the castle to Bolzano, continued a little way onto the other page.

The two landscapes below are less certainly placed; the first is likely in the Talvera Valley, like one with a view towards Bolzano in the corresponding position opposite, though the views seem to be independent; trees along the banks now interrupt the sightlines. The prospect of mountains at the bottom lacks specific landmarks, though it may be south along the same valley past Bolzano to the Dolomites. The spire of Bolzano Cathedral, observed in elevation from a distance, is shown in a separate inverted study towards the bottom right. It is labelled something like ‘opng’, probably for ‘opening’ in relation to the elaborate filigree tracery towards its top. There are rough studies of the cathedral from the adjacent square on folio 51 recto (D31697).