Gouache and watercolour on paper
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>
Dockyard
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
adults
architecture
dock
dockyard
figure
harbour
industrial
people
seascapes and coasts
townscapes / man-made features
<p>This small but powerful study shows how Turner created an almost abstract language of form and colour that could accommodate both modern and historic subjects. This watercolour has been interpreted as showing a modern dockyward. However, it could equally be seen as showing some kind of monumental ancient architecture. The sense of mystery conveyed by this work can be related to the aesthetic of the Sublime, which played an important role in helping people to see modern subjects as worthy of artistic treatment.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
paper unique gouache watercolour
?Dockyard
support: 140 × 192 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
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<span class="text0">This small but powerful study shows  how Turner created      an almost <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/a/abstract-art" title="Glossary definition for 'Abstract art'"><span>abstract</span></a> language 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/f/form" title="Glossary definition for 'Form'"><span>form</span></a> and colour that could accommodate both      modern and historic </span><span class="text10">subjects. This <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 been interpreted as showing a modern </span><span class="text0">dockyward.      However, it could equally  </span><span class="text10">be seen as showing      some kind of monumental ancient architecture. </span><span class="text0">
The      sense of mystery conveyed by this work can be related to the aesthetic 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/s/sublime" title="Glossary definition for 'Sublime'"><span>Sublime</span></a>, which played an important role in helping people to see modern      subjects as worthy of artistic treatment. </span>
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
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adults architecture dock dockyard figure harbour industrial people seascapes and coasts townscapes / man-made features
CCXXII O