Landscape
WAG 2549
Information
The fine vertical cracks all over the picture indicate that this was one of a group of experimental paintings that were found rolled up in Turner’s studio at the time of his death. On either side it is just possible to make out sketchy trees and foliage, and on the right a bank slopes towards the shallows of the river.
Turner has used delicately swept strokes of colour to create this atmospheric landscape, which at a casual first glance appears to be entirely formless. The extremely pale tones are more typical of water-colour than oil painting and are characteristic of the artist’s late work.