The year 2025 marks a major milestone in the history of Modern Art: the 250th anniversary of the birth of the British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851). To celebrate, cultural institutions across the UK have launched a rich program of events. Scala is joining the festivities by highlighting Tate Britain’s remarkable collection of sketches, drawings, and watercolors which document Turner’s travels through Italy between 1819 and 1829.
Romantic painter Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) is renowned for his luminous and elusive visions of nature, which transforms landscapes into poetic evocations. Behind his great masterpieces – such as The Fighting Temeraire (1839) and Rain, Steam, and Speed (1844), both housed at the National Gallery in London – lies a life dedicated to drawing, which is reflected in extensive collection of his travel and study sketchbooks.
Turner was a tireless traveler. From his first documented journey in 1792 to the final years of his life, he roamed across England, Wales, Scotland, and mainland Europe, always carrying his indispensable sketchbooks. These small volumes, often filled with quick sketches and notes, were the primary tool for capturing the immediacy of visual impressions.
Turner’s sketchbooks were far more than simple travel diaries – they were true laboratories of artistic experimentation. Inside, they contain pencil drawings, watercolors, light studies, and preliminary compositions for some of his most famous works. Often, these sketches were not intended as precise reproductions but served as starting points for more complex studio artworks.
One of the most prolific periods of Turner’s career unfolded during his travels in Italy between 1819 and 1829. Captivated by the Mediterranean light and classical landscapes, he filled dozens of sketchbooks with views of Rome, Venice, Naples, and the Italian countryside. The influence of these studies is evident in his later works, where light and color take on an increasingly dominant role. Turner didn’t simply paint reality – he reinterpreted it, filtering it through his keen perception and transforming it into pure visual emotion. His sketchbooks, treasure troves of ideas and insights, still offer us a glimpse into the beating heart of his creative genius.
Turner’s first journey to Italy was prompted by a commission to create illustrations for The Picturesque Tour of Italy, a work by English architect James Hakewill. In August 1819, the artist set off for Italy, traveling through Turin, Milan, Como, Verona, Venice, Ancona, Rome, Naples, Paestum, and Lerici.
This first Italian trip had a profound impact on Turner’s artistic development, particularly in his study of light. This is evident in his vibrant color studies, both in watercolor and gouache, as well as in the large-scale painting Rome, from the Vatican, completed upon his return to London in 1820 and now housed at the Tate Britain.
The allure of Italy drew Turner back between 1828 and 1829. By then, he was already renowned for his ability to capture light and atmosphere in his landscapes. Arriving in the Eternal City, he aimed to deepen his study of Italian painting and the great masters of the past.
During this second Italian stay, Turner immersed himself in sketching and watercolor painting, depicting iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Roman Forum. His focus extended beyond classical architecture to the extraordinary interplay of light and color that bathed the city at dawn and dusk. Turner’s Roman views remain among the most captivating testaments to his artistic exploration and his dialogue with history.
One of the most significant aspects of this journey was Turner’s encounter with the art of great masters such as Titian and Claude Lorrain (link al nome dell’artista), whose atmospheric treatment of landscapes deeply influenced his later works. Additionally, his participation in the 1828 exhibition at the Accademia di San Luca further cemented his connection to the Roman art scene.
Today, many of Turner’s sketchbooks are housed at Tate Britain, offering a unique window into his creative process. These invaluable documents allow us to trace the artist’s journey from direct observation to pictorial transformation. Studying them reveals the secret of his modernity: his ability to capture the fleeting essence of nature and convey it with extraordinary emotional intensity.
Scala is proud to distribute images from the Tate Gallery in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Poland, and Russia. Contact us for more information about the Tate Gallery or J.M.W. Turner’s works housed in the major worldwide collections.
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![TG05691- Quaderno di schizzi dei cieli [Finberg CLVIII], Studio del cielo. c.1816-18. Tate Gallery, Londra, Gran Bretagna](https://scalarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/scala_TG05691-1024x506.jpg)
