Joseph Mallord William Turner drawings

J.M.W. Turner’s drawings form the foundation of his artistic practice, offering insight into his mastery of composition, perspective and atmosphere. Working extensively in sketchbooks, he used pencil, ink and watercolour to capture landscapes, architectural studies and the fleeting effects of light. His travels across Britain and Europe provided endless inspiration, with subjects ranging from rugged coastlines to grand cityscapes. Turner’s rapid, gestural sketches convey movement and energy, often serving as preparatory studies for his paintings. Whether meticulously detailed or loosely expressive, his drawings reveal the spontaneity and technical brilliance that defined his approach to landscape and marine art.

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The Lungernsee by Moonlight, Switzerland

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Venice: The New Moon – The Dogana from the steps of The Hotel Europa

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Sunrise over the Sea, perhaps at Margate

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (1775-1851)

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, with Nelson's Column

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Lake of Lucerne from Brunnen, with a Steamer

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. London 1775-1851

The Brunig Pass from Meringen, Switzerland

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The Splügen Pass

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Rock of Gibraltar, with shipping in the foreground

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Norham Castle: Sunrise

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Ludlow Castle, Shropshire

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Thurn and Taxis Palace with the Obermünster in the distance, Regensburg, Germany

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Hampton Court Palace

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Conway Castle, North Wales

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

'Off Yarmouth': A Steamship off the Coast in Rough Weather

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Launceston, Cornwall

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Valley of the Brook at Kidron, Jerusalem (Absalom's Tomb)

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Rocks at Colgong (Kahalgaon) on the Ganges, Bihar, India

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Binger Lorch and the Mäuseturm

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. London 1775-1851

A view in the Domleschg Valley, Switzerland

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Wreck

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Cassiobury, Hertfordshire, seen from the North-West

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Chain Pier, Brighton

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. London 1775-1851

On the Mosel: Bernkastel, Kues and The Landshut, Germany

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The approach to Venice or Venice from the lagoon, circa 1840

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Lake Albano, Italy

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The River Aare at Thun, looking towards Lake Thun, with the Niesen and the Bernese Alps beyond

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Genoa, from the Sea, looking up to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Carignano

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

London: Autumnal Morning

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Colour beginning: A coastal landscape with a figure in the foreground

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Binger Loch and the Mäuseturm

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Mont Blanc from the Bridge of St. Martin, Sallanches

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (1775-1851)

A view on the Mosel, possibly Coblenz, Germany

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Lake Lucerne, with the Rigi

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

A storm at sea, Fingal's cave

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Mount Sinai, the Valley in which the Children of Israel were encamped

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (1775-1851)

View on the River Brent, North London

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

The Memorial to Byron, Scott and Moore

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Pendennis Castle and the entrance to Falmouth Harbour, Cornwall; Scene after a Wreck

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

Plymouth Citadel, a gale

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON, 1775-1851)

Cologne from the river

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (1775-1851)

Sisteron from the North-West, with a Low Sun

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Babbacombe Bay from near Teignmouth, Devon

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

View of Corinth, Greece

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The fortress of Ehrenbreitstein from across the Rhine ( recto ); and A Sketch of a mill at Winnigen on the Mosel ( verso )

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

View of Great Malvern Priory, Worcestershire

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Milton, Paradise Lost, Book VI: The Fall of the Rebel Angels

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The Domleschg Valley looking North, Switzerland

Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (London 1775-1851)

Greatheart conducted through the River

JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER, R.A. (LONDON 1775-1851)

The Confluence of the Seine and the Marne at Charenton, France