South Porch and Tower of an Unidentified Church 1790 - 1795

This pencil drawing of a church was made by Joseph Mallord William Turner in England. Turner created this work at a time of great religious and social change. Churches had always been the center of community life, and they had a big impact on people's culture and beliefs. Here, the church sits nestled amongst a graveyard on a hillside. In his architectural drawings, Turner often included details that reflect the historical and social importance of buildings. Note how the church and its tower stand prominently over the landscape, suggesting its institutional power. The graveyard reminds us of mortality and of the church’s role in commemorating the dead. To understand this work better, we can look at historical records, letters, and other documents. We need to think about the social and cultural context in which the art was made.