The Roman Tower, Andernach
painter
Joseph Mallord William Turner
(London, 1775 - 1851, London)
Date1817
Place MadeLondon, Greater London, England, Europe
MediumWatercolor on paper
Dimensions20 x 28 cm (7 7/8 x 11 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberP1e12
eMuseum ID718339
EmbARK ObjectID10963
TMS Source ID222
Last Updated8/31/24
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryAfter 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.
BibliographyNotesExhibition of Works by the Old Masters, and by Deceased Masters of the British School; including... A Collection of Water-Colour Drawings by Joseph M. W. Turner, R.A. Exh. cat. (London: Royal Academy, 1889), p. 67, no. 65.
Water-Colour Drawings and Pictures by J. M. W. Turner, R.A., from Farnley Hall. Exh. cat. (Yorkshire: Farnley Hall, 1890), p. 7, no. 28.
Christie, Manson & Woods. Catalogue of Water-Colour Drawings and Pictures by J. M. W. Turner, R.A., from the Farnley Hall Collection, the property of Ayscough Fawkes, Esq. (London, 27 June 1890), p. 5, no. 28.
"The Sale of the Farnley Turners." The Academy, no. 948 (5 July 1890), p. 15.
"Turner at a Premium." The Collector, no. 17 (1 August 1890), p. 1.
Catalogue. Fenway Court. (Boston, 1903), p. 1.
Philip Hendy. Catalogue of Exhibited Paintings and Drawings (Boston, 1931), pp. 382-83.
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 20.
A. J. Finberg. The Life of J. M. W. Turner, R. A. (Oxford, 1961), pp. 249-250.
Rollin Hadley. “Notes, Records, Comments.” Gardner Museum Calendar of Events 8, no. 5 (4 Oct. 1964), p. 2.
Philip Hendy. European and American Paintings in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1974), pp. 265-66.
Alan Chong et al. (eds.) Eye of the Beholder: Masterpieces from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 2003), pp. 189, 191. (as Turner, 1871)
Hans Belting. "Willaim Turner in Andernach" in Isabel Atzel (ed.). Jahre Runder Turm: Begleitheft zur Sonderausstellung im Stadtmuseum Andernach. Exh. cat. (Andernach: Stadmuseum Andernacher, 2003), pp. 89-90, ill.
Water-Colour Drawings and Pictures by J. M. W. Turner, R.A., from Farnley Hall. Exh. cat. (Yorkshire: Farnley Hall, 1890), p. 7, no. 28.
Christie, Manson & Woods. Catalogue of Water-Colour Drawings and Pictures by J. M. W. Turner, R.A., from the Farnley Hall Collection, the property of Ayscough Fawkes, Esq. (London, 27 June 1890), p. 5, no. 28.
"The Sale of the Farnley Turners." The Academy, no. 948 (5 July 1890), p. 15.
"Turner at a Premium." The Collector, no. 17 (1 August 1890), p. 1.
Catalogue. Fenway Court. (Boston, 1903), p. 1.
Philip Hendy. Catalogue of Exhibited Paintings and Drawings (Boston, 1931), pp. 382-83.
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 20.
A. J. Finberg. The Life of J. M. W. Turner, R. A. (Oxford, 1961), pp. 249-250.
Rollin Hadley. “Notes, Records, Comments.” Gardner Museum Calendar of Events 8, no. 5 (4 Oct. 1964), p. 2.
Philip Hendy. European and American Paintings in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1974), pp. 265-66.
Alan Chong et al. (eds.) Eye of the Beholder: Masterpieces from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 2003), pp. 189, 191. (as Turner, 1871)
Hans Belting. "Willaim Turner in Andernach" in Isabel Atzel (ed.). Jahre Runder Turm: Begleitheft zur Sonderausstellung im Stadtmuseum Andernach. Exh. cat. (Andernach: Stadmuseum Andernacher, 2003), pp. 89-90, ill.
MarksNotesAn inscription at the bottom left is now illegible, but it probably read "J M W Turner R A"
ProvenanceNotesPurchased by the politician and art collector, Walter Ramsden Hawkesworth Fawkes (1769–1825), Farnley Hall, Yorkshire from Joseph Mallord William Turner in 1817 as part of a series of fifty-one watercolors of the Rhine river. Fawkes paid 500 guineas for the series.
Collection of Francis Hawksworth Fawkes (1796–1871), Farnley Hall, Yorkshire, by inheritance, 1825.
Collection of Ayscough Fawkes (1831–1899) by inheritance, 1871.
Purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner from Christie's, London at the sale of Ayscough Fawkes on 27 June 1890 for £105, lot 28.
Collection of Francis Hawksworth Fawkes (1796–1871), Farnley Hall, Yorkshire, by inheritance, 1825.
Collection of Ayscough Fawkes (1831–1899) by inheritance, 1871.
Purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner from Christie's, London at the sale of Ayscough Fawkes on 27 June 1890 for £105, lot 28.
