Ville de Thun, plate 59 from Liber Studiorum
published January 1, 1816
Medium
Etching and engraving in brown on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 17.9 × 26.5 cm (7 1/16 × 10 7/16 in.); Plate: 20.9 × 29.2 cm (8 1/4 × 11 1/2 in.); Sheet: 26.5 × 38.5 cm (10 7/16 × 15 3/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
50175
Art Historical Context
**Ville de Thun, plate 59 from *Liber Studiorum*** Joseph Mallord William Turner, the preeminent British Romantic artist, created this evocative print as part of his ambitious *Liber Studiorum* (1807–1819). Inspired by 17th-century master Claude Lorrain'sLiber Veritatis*, Turner's 71-plate project showcased his versatility across landscape categories like mountainous, pastoral, and architectural scenes. Published on January 1, 1816, *Ville de Thun* captures the Swiss town of Thun nestled amid dramatic Alpine scenery, embodying Romanticism's awe for nature's sublime power. Printed in warm br...
About the Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner · 1775–1851
Joseph Mallord William Turner, born on 23 April 1775 in London's Covent Garden to barber William Turner and Mary Marshall, emerged as a child prodigy amid personal hardships. His mother suffered mental illness and died in Bethlem Hospital in 1804, while his father supported his early sketches by displaying them in his shop. Around age 10, Turner stayed with his uncle Joseph Mallord William Marshal...