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

This is one of a large group of separate studies, most of which were made in gouache and watercolour on blue paper, associated with a visit to Petworth House in West Sussex, the home of the third Earl of Egremont. For more information, see the Introduction to this section.

The setting for this atmospheric scene is Petworth’s White Library, a well-used drawing room in which guests gathered both before and after dinner; for more information about Turner’s numerous studies of this room, see the entry for Tate D22678 (Turner Bequest CCXLIV 16). It has been speculated that the figure standing at the centre of this study, commanding the attention of the guests, is their host, Lord Egremont himself.1 The people are loosely rendered, areas of different colour indicating garments and faces. Two figures, one sat down on the left and the other standing on the right, stand out thanks to their bold red and gold attire, which is suggestive of military dress; see also the entry for D22684 (Turner Bequest CCXLIV 22), which shows a man in red uniform, possibly on of Lord Egremont’s sons, in the same room.

Technical notes:

The paper along the top edge is unevenly torn, probably at the time of being cut down from larger folded sheets: for more information, see the overall Introduction to this section.

Verso:

Blank, save for inscriptions: inscribed in pencil ‘12 | a’ near centre; stamped in black with Turner Bequest monogram and ‘CCXLIV 31’ bottom left.