Description
Watercolour over traces of pencil on Whatman paper. This is an example of Turner’s early work, dating from circa 1794-95 when he was working for Dr Thomas Monro (1759-1833) at his drawing academy at 8 Adelphi Terrace, London. Monro commissioned young artists to copy works from his collection and was one of the most important patrons of his day. His collection included many works by John Robert Cozens, who Monro treated during his mental illness in the 1790s, and he had access to his sketchbooks.
Bought by John Murray III at Christie’s in 1844, it has remained in the present collection ever since. It was probably the drawing entitled `Bergamo’ in Dr Monro’s sale at Christie’s in 1833. The view is from the village of Gorle, an old medieval town on the outskirts of Bergamo. Turner has included the edge of what was once a fortified tower, commonly known as a borghetto. Situated on the west bank of the River Serio, the remains were destroyed in a fire. Gorle had many fine buildings, including the summer home of the Bishops of Bergamo, however the villa pictured in the background here is no longer standing. The mountains still dominate the view, including the unusually shaped pyramidal Monte Nese, in the low Alps bordering the town.
Educated at Charterhouse, John Murray III joined the family publishing house, which had been founded by his grandfather, in 1828, based, as it still is, at 50 Albemarle St, Mayfair. In 1836, he launched a series of travel guides of European countries and in 1843 took over the running of the family firm on the death of his father. He ran the firm until his death in 1892 publishing many notable authors including David Livingstone and Charles Darwin. Murray's relationship with Turner is documented by letters in the John Murray Archive now in the National Library of Scotland.
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
image © Guy Peppiatt Fine Art
Location
Bergamo, Italy
Country
Italy
Medium
Watercolour
Tags
Category
Landscapes & Seascapes