Plymouth, from Mount Edgcumbe
Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1814
One of Turner's most impressive views of Plymouth, from a series produced for the publication 'Picturesque Views on the Southern Coast'. The composition is a striking example of his interest in the 1810s in the panorama or 'bird's eye' view. In the foreground a lively gathering of people including sailors dance and wave in celebration of the arrival of a major fleet of ships anchored in the Devonport Docks. It seems to capture the victorious mood following the end of the Napoleonic Wars when Plymouth had been threatened with invasion.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Plymouth, from Mount Edgcumbe, 1814
Date supported
2006
Medium and material
Watercolour over pencil heightened with scratching out & touches of gum arabic, on wove paper
Dimensions
15.6 x 24.1 cm
Grant
30112
Total cost
96000
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