We look down onto a grass-topped promontory that gives way to a vast, hazy river valley in this horizontal watercolor. A dozen men, women, children, and babies rest in small groups or work near grapevines to our right on the promontory. They all have pale, peachy skin and wear garments in off white, royal blue, pink, beige, or gray. Rakes, barrels, cloth, and other equipment are piled to our left. The land dips steeply down beyond the pile to a slender, tall white tower. Opposite it, to our right, a grove of tall, spindly trees partially hides a brown stone, crenelated tower. The land drops…
Gallery mode Full size at the museum

Oberwesel

Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, 1775 - 1851)

1840

Medium
watercolor and gouache over graphite with scratching-out
Classification
Drawing
Dimensions
overall: 35 x 53.1 cm (13 3/4 x 20 7/8 in.)
Culture
British
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CG-E
Credit line
Paul Mellon Fund
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art

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