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

Finberg later annotated his 1909 Inventory entry (‘Street scene; also building on hill. – “Ospida.”’): ‘?Ospedaletto’.1 The main view, drawn with the page turned horizontally, went unrecognised until Ian Warrell identified it as a Venice subject, with ‘the ‘Grand Canal’ from ‘the steps of Santa Maria della Salute’.2 A small part of the Baroque church’s heavily articulated bulk looms in the left foreground, with what may be a related inscription scrawled in the top corner. The canal recedes to the west at the centre, beyond loosely indicated boats and figures, while the partial elevation of a palace with prominent obelisks to the right appears to be a separate detail.

The prominent church, near the Bacino entrance to the canal opposite the Palazzo Giustinian (Hotel Europa) where Turner likely stayed in 1833, features in numerous drawings in the contemporary Venice sketchbook (Tate; Turner Bequest CCCXIV), and also naturally in many views associated with the 1819 and 1840 tours; compare in particular a watercolour study in the latter’s Grand Canal and Giudecca sketchbook (Tate D32121; Turner Bequest CCCXV 5). This is one of only two Venetian subjects in the present book, the other being the view half-way round the Grand Canal towards the Rialto Bridge on folio 3 recto opposite (D31601). Perhaps Turner could not resist hastily sketching these well-known scenes one last time after his stay of only a few days, as he was ferried to the north-western end of the canal to embark for the mainland.

The ‘Ospida’ subject was evidently added subsequently, thriftily filling the sky of the main view. Ospedaletto is along the mountainous Valsugana section of Turner’s route north-west from Venice towards Trento, and what seems to be a hilltop fortress may be Castel Ivano, which gives its name to the district about a mile to the north-west; the immediate prospect from the main road is today shielded by trees. ‘Hospital’ is also listed among local place names on folio 81 recto (D31754). See the sketchbook’s Introduction for the overall itinerary.