The Confluence of the Thames and the Medway
Joseph Mallord William Turner, RA (London 1775 - Chelsea 1851)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1808
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
605 x 905 mm
Collection
Petworth House and Park, West Sussex
NT 486635
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, The Confluence of the Thames and the Medway by Joseph Mallord William Turner, RA (London 1775 - Chelsea 1851). A circa 1808 scene by J.M.W. Turner of a seascape near Sheerness (TATE/T03874). Against a grey-blue sky with light clouds Sheerness can be seen in the centre horizon. In the left centre mid-distance is a hulk, a dredger and sailing boats. In the right centre, the stern of a man-of-war is flying an ensign with an awning and beyond are the spars and bow-sprit of another. In front of them is a large sailing barge heeling over in the wind with a choppy sea and a buoy rolling in the left corner.
Provenance
Bought by the 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837) perhaps from Turner's (1775-1851) Gallery in 1808. Thence by descent, until the death in 1952 of the 3rd Lord Leconfield, who had given Petworth to the National Trust in 1947, and whose nephew and heir, John Wyndham, 6th Lord Leconfield and 1st Lord Egremont (1920-72) arranged for the acceptance of the major portion of the collections at Petworth in lieu of death duties (the first ever such arrangement) in 1956 by HM Treasury. Accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax. Allocated to Tate in 1984 and on long-term loan from Tate to the National Trust at Petworth.
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of tax and allocated to the Tate Gallery 1984. In situ at Petworth House
Marks and inscriptions
J M W Turner RA fe (signed lower right)
Makers and roles
Joseph Mallord William Turner, RA (London 1775 - Chelsea 1851), artist