In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #4 Lucerne from the Swan Hotel to the Hofkirche

In the second page-spread of Turner’s Between Lucerne and Thun sketchbook, the artist continues an excursion from the Hotel Swan at Lucerne along the lake front in the direction of the Hofkirche. In the 1840s most of this distance was spanned by an old wooden covered bridge, the Hofbrucke. Today, the area is Lucerne’s premier … Continue reading In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #4 Lucerne from the Swan Hotel to the Hofkirche →

In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #3 Lucerne, Schwanenplatz

Turner visited Lucerne several times in the early 1840s. He stayed at the Swan Hotel which was built in 1835. The building survives intact, but no longer functions as a hotel. A first floor restaurant, however, maintains the traditions of hospitality. In Turner's day it was the newest hotel on the lake front, and the … Continue reading In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #3 Lucerne, Schwanenplatz →

In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #2 Lucerne, Wasserturm and Kapellbrucke

Turner, like almost every visitor to Lucerne, started his exploration of the town at the covered bridge, the Kapellbrucke [Chapel Bridge]. This spans the River Reuss at its outflow from the Lake of Lucerne and is dominated by the spike of the Wasserturm [Water Tower]. The tower was built about 1330 as part of the … Continue reading In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #2 Lucerne, Wasserturm and Kapellbrucke →

In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #1 Back to the Beginning

The recent appearance of a Turner watercolour called ‘Lake Lucerne at Dusk’ at Sotheby’s Old Master Drawings sale in New York on 27 January reminds me of unfinished business. The very first article on Sublimesites.co was about a Turner watercolour of the Lungernsee which Turner visited and sketched whilst making a tour from Lucerne to … Continue reading In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #1 Back to the Beginning →

Turner’s Mont Cenis revisited

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 →

Minster Group: an introduction

This is a group of four watercolours, two of subjects in Margate, and another two views at Minster, a few miles inland. Turner is thought to have attended school in Margate at the beginning of his teenage years. The group is undoubtedly juvenile work. The colouring is rather thin and the drawing slightly wobbly and … Continue reading Minster Group: an introduction →

St John’s Church, Margate, Kent, c.1788

Pen, ink and watercolour on paper, 12 1/8 x 17 1/8 ins, 308 x 435 mm Private Collection Turner catalogues: Wilton 1; tdb 147 This is one of a series of four very early watercolours all sharing the same provenance, evidently having been gifted by Turner's mother to a Jane Hunt of London who married … Continue reading St John’s Church, Margate, Kent, c.1788 →

A street in Margate, looking down to the harbour, c.1788

Pen ink and watercolour on paper, 10 5/8 x 16 ins, 270 x 407 mm Private Collection Turner catalogues; Wilton 2; tdb 148 This is one of a series of four watercolours all sharing the same provenance, evidently having been gifted by Turner's mother to a Jane Hunt of London who married James Taylor of … Continue reading A street in Margate, looking down to the harbour, c.1788 →

Minster Church, Isle of Thanet, Kent, c.1788

Pen, ink and watercolour on paper, 12 x 16 3/4 ins, 305 x 426 mm Inscribed in watercolour over the porch '1574' Private Collection Turner catalogues: Wilton no.3; tdb149 This is one of a series of four watercolours, two of Margate and two of Minster, all sharing the same provenance, evidently having been gifted by … Continue reading Minster Church, Isle of Thanet, Kent, c.1788 →

Distant View of Minster, Isle of Thanet, Kent, c.1788

Pen, ink and watercolour, 10 7/8 x 14 7/8 ins, 276 x 378 mm Private Collection Turner catalogues: Wilton no.4; tdb 150; This is one of a series of four watercolours, two of Margate and two of Minster, all sharing the same provenance, evidently having been gifted by Turner's mother to a Jane Hunt of … Continue reading Distant View of Minster, Isle of Thanet, Kent, c.1788 →