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Lot Essay
This watercolour was sold in these Rooms in 1980 with a similar watercolour inscribed and dated 'W. by S. 7 o'clock P.M. August 10 1852/Wind W. by N.'. That was also included in the 1991 Agnew's exhibition, no. 84, illustrated and titled High Cirrus Clouds Evening.
Turner of Oxford was fascinated by natural phenomena, and his observations in watercolour of the Aurora Borealis (Oxford City Council, T. Wilcox and C. Titterington, William Turner of Oxford (1789-1862), Wisbech, 1984, p. 78, pl. 86) and Donati's Comet (Private Collection, op. cit., p. 79, pl. 87) bear testimony to this and his successful rendering of both day and night skies.
A number of drawings using an unusual technique similar to that of the present example - heavy bodycolour on tinted paper - are recorded and tend to date from the period 1845-50 for instance Full moon over Cherwell, op. cit., p. 69, pl. 72 and Roman Road near Dorchester, p. 68, pl. 71, both in private collections.
Turner of Oxford was fascinated by natural phenomena, and his observations in watercolour of the Aurora Borealis (Oxford City Council, T. Wilcox and C. Titterington, William Turner of Oxford (1789-1862), Wisbech, 1984, p. 78, pl. 86) and Donati's Comet (Private Collection, op. cit., p. 79, pl. 87) bear testimony to this and his successful rendering of both day and night skies.
A number of drawings using an unusual technique similar to that of the present example - heavy bodycolour on tinted paper - are recorded and tend to date from the period 1845-50 for instance Full moon over Cherwell, op. cit., p. 69, pl. 72 and Roman Road near Dorchester, p. 68, pl. 71, both in private collections.