J.M.W.Turner: 

River Wye, mezzotint by W.Annis, part X, 1812, British Museum

48. RIVER WYE

LETTERING OF FIRST STATE:

E.P.

RIVER WYE

Drawn & Etched by M W Turner Esqf R.A.P.P.

Engraved by W. Annis

Published May 23. 1812, by I. M. W. Turner, Queen Ann Street West.

SIZE:    Plate Mark, 8 x 11 ; Engraved Surface, 7 X 10 in.

DRAWING

7+X 10 Pen and Sepia. TURNER BEQUEST, CXVII, X.

Probably from sketch made in 1798.

ETCHING

8x11 7x10

FIRST STATE. Before figures of bathers, and before margin lines were completed. ALLEN cx

Taylor.

SECOND STATE. Figures added. Lettered “Chepstow Castle” (the “a” is reversed).

Thirteen impressions in Turner Sale.

It is possible that the differences in the First State are merely due to defective printing.

ENGRAVER’S PROOFS

(a)   Sky dark. Castle and slopes below very dark. Window openings in keep. BRITISH MUSEUM cx Vaughan, BOSTON cx Taylor. (b) Sky lightened, clouds developed. Details added on ruined castle in centre. Margins cleaned. BOSTON cx Taylor. (c) Castle and all centre re-rocked. No window openings in keep. Sky nearçr completion. ALLEN cx Taylor.

(c) Sky lightened and lights added on horse, cows, etc. BRITISH MUSEUM cx Pyc, BOSTON cx Stokes, Bale, and Rawlinson. (e) Almost completed. ‘Window opening in castle lightened. No lights on Small lower tree on extreme right. ALLEN. All these proofs have the lettering of the Etching.

FIRST STATE

Before any mark in margin.                                                                                            7. Whatman i8io.

SECOND STATE

A single vertical line below left lower corner of plate.

Little inferior to I.                                                                                                                                    TYave.

THIRD STATE

Mark changed to a capital A.

Before re-work.                                                                                                              7. Whatman 1810.

FOURTH STATE

Same mark in margin.

Light now added breaking downwards on slope just to right of keep in centre.

Dark reflections on right and in centre re-worked.                                                  T. Richard (a) and (h)

FIFTH STATE

Same mark in margin.

Lights added on foliage below keep. Smoke prolonged to left and light reflection added in water below. White horizontal streak added crossing lower part of rounded clouds above left corner of keep. Other lights added in sky. Laid. Late worn impressions on wove paper.