Explorations in the footsteps of Turner, Cotman, Ruskin and others with Professor David Hill
Turner made sixteen watercolours for 'The Pocket Magazine, or Elegant Repository of Useful and Entertaining Literature', published by Harrison & Co of Paternoster Row, London in monthly parts, from no.1 for August 1794. The monthly parts were published in arrears, so that for August appeared in September, and so on. Pocket Magazine, No.1, August 1794Photograph … Continue reading The Pocket Magazine: an introduction
Following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the continent of Europe gradually opened up to British Travellers. Apart from the brief peace of Amiens in 1802 it had been closed by the Napoleonic Wars during Turner’s entire career. He would have liked to go to Italy, but was prevented from going abroad at all in … Continue reading 1817 Tour to Belgium, Rhine and the Netherlands: Introduction
Pencil and watercolour, 70 x 115 mm, 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 ins, mounted in the artist's original washline border. Inscribed lower right, "Turner" and on label, 'Tower of London by Turner RA/ presented by him to Flaxman the Sculptor and purchased at his sale' and 'Purchased at Grundy sale Oct/87 No.134'. Sterling and Francine … Continue reading Tower of London, c.1794
Introduction This series of fifty-one watercolours depicts subjects on the river Rhine between Cologne and Mainz. The traditional story of their origin was related by Walter Thornbury in his Life of J.M.W.Turner published in 1862: Walter Thornbury, Life of J.M.W.Turner R.A,, 1862 vol.2, p.86 They remained together at Farnley until 27 June 1890 when thirty-five … Continue reading Rhine Series: an introduction
Watercolour on pale grey flecked laid wrapping paper, probably Dutch, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 ins, 209 x 290 mm. London, Courtauld Institute of Art. D1967.WS.94 Turner catalogues: Wilton 667; tdb0799 This is a medium-sized watercolour, of a landscape scene, looking along a river to blue hills, with a rock escarpment to the left impending … Continue reading The Drachenfels on the Rhine, with the Rolandsberg and Nonnenwerth, 1817
Watercolour on white wove paper prepared with a wash of grey, 7 3/4 x 12 1/8 ins, 195 x 303 mm. Private Collection Turner catalogues: Wilton 666; tdb798 This is a medium-sized watercolour of a landscape scene, looking along a river flowing between castellated hills. In the centre is a promontory or island with a … Continue reading Rolandswerth, Nunnery and Drachenfels, on the river Rhine, Germany, 1817
In 1831 and 1832 Turner made nine watercolours to be engraved for ‘Finden’s Landscape Illustrations to Mr Murray’s First Complete and Uniform Edition of The Life and Works of Lord Byron.’ The first part was issued alongside the first of Murray’s Life and Work in January 1832, and continued more-or-less monthly through twenty four parts … Continue reading Introduction: Finden’s Landscape Illustrations to the Life and Works of Lord Byron, 1832-34
Watercolour, 5 x 8 ins,, 128 x 204 mm Manchester City Art Gallery (1917.113) Turner catalogues: Wilton 1216; tdb1333 This is a small, highly-finished and richly-coloured watercolour showing the view along a river to a hill surmounted by a castle with a castle-topped promontory to the left. A road runs along the riverside at the … Continue reading The Drachenfels on the Rhine, Germany [Drachenfells], c.1832
Introduction A series of seventeen vignette watercolours made c.1831-33 for John Murray's edition of 'The Life and Works of Lord Byron'. The editions was conceived following Murray's publication in 1830 of the Letters and Journals of Lord Byron with Notices of his Life by Thomas Moore. Shortly afterwards he determined on publishing a popular edition … Continue reading Introduction: Illustrations for John Murray’s Life and Works of Lord Byron, 17 vols, 1832-33
Watercolour vignette on paper, sheet size 9 x 10 7/8 ins, 229 x 276 mm USA, New York, Vassar College Art Gallery, Poughkeepsie. (864.1.217) Turner catalogues: Wilton1222; tdb1339 Vassar College, USA: http://emuseum.vassar.edu/internal/media/dispatcher/9947/resize:format=full This is a small, highly-finished watercolour vignette of boats moored by a town bristling with spires and towers. In the centre is a … Continue reading Bacharach on the Rhine, looking upstream, sunset, c.1832
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