Joseph Mallord William Turner

Many of J.M.W. Turner’s earliest paintings were views of Italy copied from prints and from other artists, but his late works, like this drawing, are the products of actual experience. Here he captures the sweeping grandeur of the Alpine valleys just beyond the Italian border, taking us through the Pass of St. Gotthard, the principal transalpine route for travelers arriving overland from the north. By making watercolors like this throughout the trip, Turner built a library of dramatic and beautiful scenes, perfect for execution later in oils. Though color is the principle concern in this small piece, it also includes some important topographical details, such as the switchbacks winding up the left side of the valley.