Explorations in the footsteps of Turner, Cotman, Ruskin and others with Professor David Hill
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
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
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
This the third instalment of a tour through the Illustrations to the Life and Works of Lord Byron published between 1832 and 1834. Here we look at the image chosen to serve as the frontispiece to the whole series, a view of Gibraltar by Turner. Splendid as it certainly is, its relationship with Byron’s Life … Continue reading Byron’s Europe: Frontispiece; Gibraltar
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
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
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
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
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
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
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