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

The city of Salerno lies within the Gulf of Salerno, approximately thirty miles south-east of Naples. The main sketch on this page depicts a view of the city from the sea. The identifiable landmarks include the Mole and harbour along the waterfront on the left with the dome and bell-tower of the Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata near Porta Catena beyond. On the right is the campanile of the cathedral, whilst rising above the centre is a steep peak surmounted by the eighth-century Castello di Arechi (Arechi Castle). The composition continues on the opposite sheet of the double-page spread, see folio 48 (D15825). Further views of Salerno can be found on folios 36 verso, 46 verso–47 (D15806, D15822–D15823), and also in the Naples, Paestum, Rome sketchbook (Tate D15981–D15985 and D16078–D16079; Turner Bequest CLXXXVI 35a–37a and 85a–86).

Also in the top and bottom right-hand corners are sketches of the coastline near Salerno, including one of the numerous sixteenth-century watch-towers which are dotted along all along the Amalfi coast, see folio 48 (D15825). Turner made a sequence of drawings taken from a boat as it navigated its way between Salerno, Amalfi and Sorrento, see folios 48–67 (D15825–D15861).