In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #5 Lucerne from near the Hofkirche

Here we continue to explore the sketches in Turner’s Between Lucerne and Thun sketchbook, completing an excursion along the lake front from the Swan Hotel to some distance east of the Hofkirche. These sketches form the basis of a studio watercolour painted in 1845, from which we might infer that the visit was Turner’s last … Continue reading In Turner’s Footsteps between Lucerne and Thun: #5 Lucerne from near the Hofkirche →

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 →

1817 Tour to Belgium, Rhine and the Netherlands: 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 →

The Drachenfels on the Rhine, with the Rolandsberg and Nonnenwerth, 1817

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 →

Rolandswerth, Nunnery and Drachenfels, on the river Rhine, Germany, 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 →

The Drachenfels on the Rhine, Germany [Drachenfells], c.1832

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 →