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

This sheet is one of a series of sketches associated with a tour of the Seine with a proposed dating of 1827–9. The studies are characterised by the use of pen and ink on blue paper; for more information see the Introduction to this section.

The study is one of a small group catalogued within this section to have been made in a panoramic format, with each sheet measuring around 9.5 by 28 cm. For other studies in this format see Tate D24893–D24894, D24896, D24899–D24900, D24904–D24905 (Turner Bequest CCLX 57–58, 60, 63–64, 68–69). As Warrell has noted, while the popularity of the panoramic format during Turner’s day may at first glance make this appear unsurprising, it was format Turner rarely used; other exceptions include some of Turner’s depictions of Petworth.1 Turner possessed a copy of Thomas Girtin’s Twenty Views of Paris, and it seems very possible that the panoramic format Seine studies took some heed of them.2 Girtin etched a View from the Palace Terrace at St. Germain, which was then completed in aquatint; Girtin’s preparatory drawing, which presents a similar viewpoint to the present study, survives (British Museum, London3).

Warrell noted that this study appears to have been made from the same spot as another catalogued in this section, Tate D24896 (Turner Bequest CCLX 60).4 While this study appears to show the view looking upstream, towards the aqueduct, the other study looks downriver, to the north. In both views figures can be seen in the foreground, taking in the view. For other views of St-Germain believed to date from the same visit, see Tate D24893 and D24904 (Turner Bequest CCLX 57 and 68).

Verso:

See separate entry (Tate D41471).