Sketchbook- Derbyshire and Sussex by Joseph Mallord William Turner

Sketchbook- Derbyshire and Sussex c. 1834

drawing

abstract painting

rough brush stroke

impressionist landscape

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

fluid art

acrylic on canvas

england

underpainting

painting painterly

watercolor

This watercolor sketch by J.M.W. Turner, created around 1834, depicts a church in the English countryside. The piece, titled "Sketchbook- Derbyshire and Sussex," showcases Turner's signature loose brushstrokes and atmospheric washes of color. The church, rendered in pale tones, stands prominently against a backdrop of verdant foliage, hinting at the tranquility of the scene. This intimate sketch, part of Turner's extensive sketchbook collection, demonstrates his mastery of watercolor and his fascination with capturing the essence of the natural world.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This sketchbook is open to a view of the church St. Mary the Virgin, whose square tower was built in the 1100s. The church is adjacent to Coleorton Hall, the Leicestershire manor house of Sir George Beaumont (1753-1827), a pivotal figure in the artistic life of Great Britain. Beaumont made the founding bequest of paintings to the National Gallery in London; moreover, his home was a magnet for artists and poets. The point of view here suggests that the artist may have sat with his back resting against the house. The inscriptions that identify the locations in the sketchbook are believed to have been written by fellow artist J. M. W. Turner, but the drawings appear to be by a close associate, possibly George Harley, a skilled draftsman who published instruction books on how to draw landscapes.