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

These slight drawings were made with the page turned horizontally. Finberg later annotated his basic 1909 Inventory entry (‘Buildings from canal’): ‘Dogana & Salute from Gd. Canal’.1 This appears correct, with the upright porch of the Dogana at the entrance to the Grand Canal from the Bacino towards the left, and the two domes of Santa Maria della Salute just beyond to the west, along the south side. Aspects of the long-familiar prospect, opposite the Hotel Europa (Palazzo Giustinian) where Turner was staying, are shown on nearby pages, including folios 58 recto and 61 recto (D31904, D31910). The subject of the looser sketch at the top left is unclear, but it likely shows waterfront buildings, perhaps with a gondola in the foreground.

There is a rapid variation on folio 62 recto (D31912). As discussed under folio 60 verso (D31909), many of the Venice drawings between there and folio 69 recto (D31926) are in a conspicuously rough mode, sometimes with identifiable landmarks but often seemingly rushed to the point of incoherence, perhaps either on account of stormy weather (see under folio 60 recto; D31908) or failing light.