JMW Turner's Two 'St Vincent's Rock' Exhibits of 1793
Chapter II: The rising squall, hot wells, from St. Vincent's rock, and
'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's rock, Bristol: The position of JMW Turner's exhibit in the Anti-Room in 1793
JMW Turner's Two 'St Vincent's Rock' Exhibits of 1793
Chapter II: The rising squall, hot wells, from St.
Vincent's rock, and
'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's rock, Bristol: The
position of JMW Turner's exhibit in the Anti-Room in 1793
'The rising squall, hot wells, from St. Vincent's
rock, Bristol', and
'View on the river Avon, near St. Vincent's rock, Bristol'
Paintings by JMW Turner; exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1793
The position of JMW Turner's exhibit in the Anti-Room in 1793
1. Layout by reference to Sandby's drawings of 1792
Layout
of the 1793 Exhibition
The layout of the Anti-Room in 1793 was determined by reference to
drawings of the 1792 exhibition layout by Paul Sandby. It was found that
the space available for exhibit 263 would accommodate a picture in its
frame of approximately 24"x 30".
2. Estimate of the size of JMW Turner's exhibit in the Anti-Room in 1793
Estimates of the size of 'The rising squall, hot wells, from St. Vincent's rock, Bristol' from the size of earlier RA exhibits, 'The Pantheon', and 'Self Portrait Age 16' suggest that Turner was painting on a format of around 15"x 20" which in a 4" gilt frame, typical of the time, would occupy a space of 23"x 28". There is one picture which does not fit in this pattern; 'The Country Waggon, Snowdon - Early Morning'.
3. 'Squall at St Vincent's Rock, Bristol' consistent with 1793 Anti-Room layout
The original finished canvas size of 'Squall at St Vincent's Rock, Bristol' was 14½"x 19¾" (see: data sheet). In a 4" frame the hanging size would be 22½"x 27¾", consistent with the hanging space at the 1793 exhibition.
4. Anti-Room 1793:
[64 pictures] 237 - 300 Approximate Layout:
We have used the orientations North/South/East/West as a rough guide only. This is our best estimate of the orientation of the anti-room in the 1790's but we have conflicting information and will update these notes if needed.