Joseph Mallord William Turner (London, 1775 - 1851, London)
The Roman Tower, Andernach, 1817
Watercolor on paper, 20 x 28 cm (7 7/8 x 11 in.)
This horizontal watercolor painting depicts a tower in the midst of a walled city, mountains, and a river. The color palette is mostly gray and brown. In the foreground is a sandy beach next to a grayish river to our right. Long narrow boats are lined up on the beach and a few people are building another boat. A group of people with their backs to the viewer appear to be enjoying themselves on the beach. To our left of this group, a row of cypress trees forms a border along a high stone city wall, ending at the tower. A church’s spire is visible from inside the city. Behind and to both our left and right of the tower is a mountain range. The peaks are highest in the center, tapering off to our right. The sky takes up more than half of the painting. Most of it is in shades of gray, with the darkest shades of grayish blue to our right, possibly indicating an impending storm. White clouds float in the far upper corner to our left. A white sailboat can be seen in the river in the distance. A cropped hillside is across the river to our right.
Yellow Room
Commentary
After the defeat of Napoleon, Europe was again open to travel and in 1817 J. M. W. Turner visited the battlefield of Waterloo and then journeyed up the Rhine River. On his return to England, he produced a large number of watercolors based on graphite sketches he made of the Rhine. Fifty-one of these drawings, including this one, were acquired by Walter Fawkes of Farnley Hall, one of Turner’s most important patrons as well as a close friend. Although not made on the spot, this drawing preserves a freshness and spontaneity. Throughout his career, Turner adjusted his watercolor technique to the scenery he encountered, and as a result, each set of drawings possesses an individual style.
When Mrs. Gardner acquired this watercolor, she was still feeling her way as a serious collector. She was initially interested in British art, and the purchase of this watercolor by Turner, as well as a painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti – both bought at auctions of famous collections at fairly high prices – shows her determination to start at the top. However, despite talk of buying Gainsborough’s celebrated Blue Boy, her interest in British pictures soon fizzled.
Source: Alan Chong, "The Roman Tower, Andernach," in Eye of the Beholder, edited by Alan Chong et al. (Boston: ISGM and Beacon Press, 2003): 191.
When Mrs. Gardner acquired this watercolor, she was still feeling her way as a serious collector. She was initially interested in British art, and the purchase of this watercolor by Turner, as well as a painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti – both bought at auctions of famous collections at fairly high prices – shows her determination to start at the top. However, despite talk of buying Gainsborough’s celebrated Blue Boy, her interest in British pictures soon fizzled.
Source: Alan Chong, "The Roman Tower, Andernach," in Eye of the Beholder, edited by Alan Chong et al. (Boston: ISGM and Beacon Press, 2003): 191.