Explorations in the footsteps of Turner, Cotman, Ruskin and others with Professor David Hill
This article discusses a French subject painted by Turner in connection with 'The Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott'. Following previous articles on Calais and Abbeville, it is the third of four compositions to illustrate Scott’s two-volume History of France. It becomes apparent that the subjects variously explore the idea of arrival in France and … Continue reading Turner’s Chateau d’Arques la Bataille, near Dieppe, c.1834
This article concludes the consideration of Turner’s watercolour and 1836 engraving of the harbour at Calais. In the previous instalment I claimed that the engraving was representative of the cutting edge of image technology. Here I propose that the same edge cuts through the content. The lighthouse itself is a beacon to modernity. Though lighthouses … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #7
This article continues the consideration of Turner’s watercolour and 1836 engraving of the harbour at Calais. In the previous instalment we contrasted Turner's view with some more straightforward treatments of the subject. Here we begin to explore the range of aspects woven into it. A dreamwork is churned first in the imagination of the artist, … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #6
This article continues the consideration of Turner’s watercolour and 1836 engraving of the harbour at Calais. In the last we encountered numerous issues with Turner's rendition of the key landmarks. Here we begin to wonder what might be made of his waywardness. Calais, an illustration to Walter Scott's 'Tales of a Grandfather', i.e. Calais Harbour, … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #5
This article continues the consideration of Turner’s watercolour of the harbour at Calais and its 1836 engraving. In the previous instalments we took a tour round the principal landmarks, and gathered together Turner’s sketches. We can now review the watercolour and engraving in the light of Turner’s observations and interests. Calais, an illustration to Walter … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #4
This article continues the consideration of Turner’s watercolour and 1836 engraving of the harbour at Calais. In part 2 we took a tour round the principal landmarks, and gathered a few photographic references. Here, we complete our survey of other sketches by Turner that might have proved useful references in the development of the watercolour. … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #3
This article continues the consideration of Turner’s watercolour of the harbour at Calais and its 1836 engraving. In this part we take a tour round the principal landmarks, and gather a few photographic and historical references. Calais, an illustration to Walter Scott's 'Tales of a Grandfather', i.e. Calais Harbour, with the church of Notre Dame, … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #2
Calais, an illustration to Walter Scott's 'Tales of a Grandfather', i.e. Calais Harbour, with the church of Notre Dame, Tour du Guet, Hotel de Ville and Porte de Mer, c.1834Watercolour vignette, image approx 152 x 102 mm, on sheet, 444 x 345 mmFrance, Calais, Musee du CalaisImage Sotheby’s 8 June 1999, lot 25 This article … Continue reading Lights will guide you home: Turner at Calais #1
I recently heard from the French scholar Roland Courtot. I have drawn on his work before, especially with regard to Sisteron. He has spent many years engaged in topographical research in relation to artists in the Alps. He has archived much of his work in the online research archive of the University of Aix-Marseille and … Continue reading Turner’s Mont Cenis revisited
Watercolour vignette, 135 x 105 mm Private Collection Notes: This is a small, highly-wrought studio watercolour vignette, of a busy street scene with a cathedral in the background bathed in light, whilst a stage coach stops in the centre of a street amidst a throng of figures. DH scan from Sotheby's 1983 This is the … Continue reading Abbeville: St Vulfran from the Market Square, c.1834
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