Graphite, watercolour and gouache on paper
Fribourg, Lausanne and Geneva Sketchbook
Fribourg, Lausanne and Geneva Sketchbook
Switzerland
Tate Collection
Works with images
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Turner Bequest
Collection
Turner owned by Tate
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/joseph-mallord-william-turner-558" aria-label="More by Joseph Mallord William Turner" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Joseph Mallord William Turner</a>
Mount Pilatus Lake Lucerne
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
countries and continents
lake
Lake Lucerne
landscape
Mount Pilatus
mountain
natural features (non-UK)
natural phenomena
places
reflection
Switzerland
water: inland
<p>Ruskin selected this subject largely on account of Turner's handling of perspective on the right hand shore, 'which gives distance and magnitude to the Mont Pilate'. He also noted the introduction of the boat ('to keep the eye from resting on the formal oblong of the lake boundaries') and the long reflections of the blue cloud as distinctively 'Turneresque' features. Sadly, the appearance of the watercolour has changed significantly since it was selected by Ruskin. The darkening of some washes of gouache is especially noticeable in the sky. This seems to be the result of a subsequent change in the pigment used or in the medium applied, and is an effect discernible on other sheets from the same sketchbook.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
paper unique graphite watercolour gouache
Mount Pilatus, from Lake Lucerne
support: 227 × 291 mm
Accepted by the nation as part of the <a href="/search?gid=999999781" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Turner Bequest</a> 1856
<p>Ruskin selected this subject largely on account of Turner's handling of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/perspective" title="Glossary definition for 'Perspective'"><span>perspective</span></a> on the right hand shore, 'which gives distance and magnitude to the Mont Pilate'. He also noted the introduction of the boat ('to keep the eye from resting on the formal oblong of the lake boundaries') and the long reflections of the blue cloud as distinctively 'Turneresque' features. Sadly, the appearance of the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/w/watercolour" title="Glossary definition for 'Watercolour'"><span>watercolour</span></a> has changed significantly since it was selected by Ruskin. The darkening of some washes of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/g/gouache" title="Glossary definition for 'Gouache'"><span>gouache</span></a> is especially noticeable in the sky. This seems to be the result of a subsequent change in the pigment used or in the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/medium" title="Glossary definition for 'Medium'"><span>medium</span></a> applied, and is an effect discernible on other sheets from the same sketchbook.</p>
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
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Technique and condition
2012-11-18T00:00:00
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TECHNICAL_ENTRY
countries and continents lake Lake Lucerne landscape mountain Mount Pilatus natural features (non-UK) natural phenomena places reflection Switzerland water: inland
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