Print made by William Miller, 1796–1882, Britishafter Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1775–1851, British
Title:
Modern Italy
Date:
1842
Materials & Techniques:
Etching and engraving, with graphite and scraping out; touched engraver's proof (a) on thick, sightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 22 × 27 7/8 inches (55.9 × 70.8 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1977.14.8050
Gallery Label:
Turner was highly conscious of the potential of printed reproductions to popularize his images and generate additional income. Always mindful of the specific requirements of the medium, he was prepared to manipulate tone, line, and detail to increase the impact of the finished print. Since most prints were made by specialist reproductive engravers, this required him to supervise their production closely. This cabinet contains touched proofs (trial prints) after his oil painting Modern Italy: The Pifferari (1838). These clearly show Turner’s almost obsessive attention to detail. Not only has he applied graphite shading to modify tonal values, but he has also written extensive notes in the margins to engraver William Miller. They include minutely detailed instructions (“Make the front touches broad and decidedly strong”) and even request changes to compositional details (“Make this into a Birds nest with Eggs”). Gallery label for J. M. W. Turner: Romance and Reality (Yale Center for British Art, March - 29, 2025 - July 27, 2025)
