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

ISBN 978-1-84976-386-8

Joseph Mallord William Turner Santa Costanza and the Basilica of Constantina, Rome 1819

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Folio 35 Recto:
Santa Costanza and the Basilica of Constantina, Rome 1819
D16454
Turner Bequest CXC 40
Pencil and grey watercolour wash on white wove paper, 130 x 255 mm
Inscribed by the artist in pencil ‘[?C...]’ bottom left and ‘Wall’ bottom centre right
Inscribed by ?John Ruskin with traces of red ink top right
Stamped in black ‘CXC 40’ bottom right
 
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
The subject of this sketch is the Church of Santa Costanza, also known as the Mausoleum of Constantina, which stands near the Via Nomentana, north-east of the historic centre of Rome. Turner’s view looks north-east towards the circular drum and cupola of the church, which is dedicated to Constantina, daughter of the Emperor Constantine. On the left are the ruined remains of the elliptical walls of an early basilica built by Constantine, and in the background is the church of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura which replaced it. Further studies of this complex of buildings can be found on folios 61 verso and 62 verso (D16430 and D16432; Turner Bequest CXC 24a and 25a), whilst a view of the interior of Santa Costanza appears on folio 62 (D16431; Turner Bequest CXC 25). Like many drawings within this sketchbook, the composition has been executed over a washed grey background and Turner has created areas of pale highlights by lifting or rubbing through to the white paper beneath.
Verso;
Blank except for traces of grey watercolour

Nicola Moorby
June 2009

How to cite

Nicola Moorby, ‘Santa Costanza and the Basilica of Constantina, Rome 1819 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, June 2009, in David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, Tate Research Publication, December 2012, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-santa-costanza-and-the-basilica-of-constantina-rome-r1132543, accessed 29 March 2024.