Attribution Evidence Detail rock complex and rising squall

These notes describe briefly the factors involved in identification:

Rock Complex

‘Back View Of The Hot Wells, Bristol’ is watercolour that Turner painted on a visit to Bristol in 1791. It remained in his possession throughout his life and was included Turner Bequest.

The Hot Wells building, now partially demolished, was situated at St. Vincents Rock, Bristol.

The candidate picture depicts exactly the same rocks as ‘Back View Of The Hot Wells, Bristol’ albeit from the opposite direction.

Rising Squall

‘Squall’in the candidate picture accords with Turner’s depictions of squally weather in many other Turner pictures. Other elements of the candidate picture, particularly thin painting and precision, reflect literary sources describing Turner’s early oil pictures. It is concluded that the candidate picture is ‘The Rising Squall, Hot Wells, from St Vincent’s Rock, Bristol’ exhibited at the RA Exhibition of 1793.

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