J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

A long sequence of sketches, mostly characterised as ‘Mountains’ by Finberg (with occasional identifications and transcriptions of the place names marked by the artist), lies between this page and folio 76 recto (D32275–D32411).1 After Bregenz (see under folio 2 verso; D32266), Turner took a south-easterly route towards Venice through the rugged Vorarlberg and Tyrol Alps of Austria via Landeck, into the Austrian territories of northern Italy and the Dolomites by way of Bolzano (Bozen) and Belluno (see the sketchbook’s Introduction).2

Following the last view near Bregenz on folio 6 verso opposite (D32274), between here and folio 10 recto (D32275–D32281) the route through Austria is presumably south-east through the Vorarlberg province towards Sankt Anton am Arlberg at the western end of Tyrol on folio 10 verso (D32282), the next subject to be readily identified by its inscription. In the present drawing, made with the page turned horizontally, the main prospect of the undulating skyline, perhaps with a road or river receding below, may be continued by the similar jagged profile at the top right.