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

The slight outline subject here is obscure, except insofar as there seem to be architectural elements at the left and below, an apparently intentional diagonal stroke or two at the top right, and what may be a scrawled inscription towards the bottom right. The recto is D32257 (Turner Bequest CCCXIX 9), with a much more developed Venetian subject in gouache and watercolour.

The cluster of verticals on the left perhaps suggest the tower of a campanile such as San Marco (St Mark’s), or the façade of a substantial building such as the Hotel Europa (Palazzo Giustinian), where Turner was staying. One of the strokes at the top right appears slightly curved and might indicate a crescent moon. Taken together with a longer stroke, lightning might be inferred. Compare contemporary colour studies on similar grey or brown sheets, such as night views over rooftops towards St Mark’s with the moon (Tate D32224; Turner Bequest CCCXVIII 5) and dramatic lightning (D32254; CCCXIX 6), and a view of the Grand Canal from the steps of the Europa (D32238; CCCXVIII 19), which is distinguished chiefly by the pale stone around its entrance, possibly hinted at here on the left.

Many of the colour studies show traces of chalk and probably started with as slight an outline as employed here. Other identifiable subjects did not progress beyond the same stage: D40321 (the verso of CCCXIX 1), D34231–D34233 (CCCLXII 40, 41, 41v).

For Turner’s ink numbering of the versos of Venetian colour studies, as here, see the Introduction to the tour.

Technical notes:

For notes on the paper, see under the recto (D32257).1