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

As discussed in the introduction, most of the drawings in this book are rapid figure studies, many of which are explicitly erotic; others may be similar in intent, but are difficult to make out, and may be of classical or biblical subjects. Here the intention and orientation of the sketch are unclear, with what may be a male figure falling headlong with arms outstretched; the wing-like forms emanating from the shoulders might suggest an angel or a mythical creature. Finberg tentatively interpreted part of Turner’s effectively illegible inscription, possibly a quotation, as the Biblical ‘Fall of Satan’ from Heaven.1 The subject on folio 6 verso (D18485; CCX a 4a) appears to be related.

This page appears always to have been the verso, although Finberg cites it as page ‘41’ without his usual ‘a’ suffix to indicate its being so. The number is stamped on the recto, along with John Ruskin’s ‘41’ in red ink.