Babylon thumbnail 1
Babylon thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H , Case WD, Shelf 55, Box B

Babylon

Watercolour
ca. 1800-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Turner, Joseph Mallord William (RA) (maker)
Porter, Robert Ker (Sir) (after)
Place of origin
London (made)

This watercolour, showing a rocky landscape outside the ancient biblical city of Babylon, was based upon a drawing by Sir Robert Ker Porter, and itself became the basis of an engraving for an illustrated Bible. Sir Robert Ker Porter (1777-1842) was a founder-member of a group of young painters called the Brothers, who wished to establish a tradition of history painting in Britain. Turner himself may have been a later member.


Object details

Category
Watercolours
Object type
Watercolour
TitleBabylon (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour
Watercolour (Paint)
Watercolour Painting
Brief description
Watercolour, Babylon, by J.M.W. Turner, ca. 1800-50.
Physical description
Watercolour showing a rocky landscape and half-skyscape, with figures seated in the foreground.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.1cm
  • Width: 20.6cm
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Vaughan Bequest
Object history
Vaughan Bequest

Previously in the collection of Benjamin Godfrey Windus
Production
After a sketch by Sir R. Ker Porter.
Subject depicted
Landscape
Place depicted
Babylon
Summary
This watercolour, showing a rocky landscape outside the ancient biblical city of Babylon, was based upon a drawing by Sir Robert Ker Porter, and itself became the basis of an engraving for an illustrated Bible. Sir Robert Ker Porter (1777-1842) was a founder-member of a group of young painters called the Brothers, who wished to establish a tradition of history painting in Britain. Turner himself may have been a later member.
Bibliographic references
  • Finkel, Irving and Seymour, M.J. (eds.), Babylon. Myth and Reality London : British Museum Press, 2008. Fig.170
  • Wilton, Andrew. The Life and Work of J. M. W. Turner. London: Academy Editions, 1979. 449 p., ill. ISBN 856705659.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
982-1900

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 28, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O125522/babylon-watercolour-turner-joseph-mallord/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest