Watercolour on paper

Why we acquired this work

Lord Kenilworth bequeathed this work to The Herbert in 1954. Lord Kenilworth was John Siddeley, moving force behind the giant car firm Armstrong-Siddeley.

The Subject

There are many light touches to be seen, the handiwork of a great artist. See how the fast stage-coach is contrasted with the slow cart. See how the shapes of the trees and the woman's parasol echo each other. Spot the tiny reflections along the foreshore near the harbour. Marvel at the pale bright colour - the darkness of the trees brings out the richness of the other colours.

The Artist

Turner was the great contemporary of Constable and more successful than him at the time. So great was his reputation that when his experiments with colour and lighting effects in painting let him to develop nearly abstract art, respect though not understanding for his art continued.

Turner often stayed for weekends at Margate with a Mr. and Mrs. Booth. After Mr. Booth died in 1833, Turner (aged 58) lived with her in Margate and eventually they moved back to London.

The Place of Turner in Art

Outside Britain, Turner and Constable are recognised as one of the chief inspirations behind the Impressionists and thus of modern developments in art more generally. In Britain, The Tate Britain has built a large wing specially to permanently display Turner's oil paintings, which he left to the nation.

Other works by the artist in the Herbert's collections

The Herbert holds two more watercolours by Turner: Florence (from San Miniato), around 1827, and Lime Kiln by Moonlight, around 1798. The Herbert also has an engraving of his view of Coventry from the Holyhead Road (in the British Museum).