About this artwork

Turner often adapted a view to capture the essence of a place. Here he has turned Durham cathedral 45 degrees from its true position to face his viewpoint on the Prebends Bridge. The golden evening light and the composition, with trees and a corner of the bridge jutting in to ‘frame’ the landscape, are inspired by Turner’s artistic hero, the French landscape painter Claude Lorrain (about 1604–1682). Turner took immense care over every detail, using a needle to scratch away paint and define architectural features. Durham was later engraved and published in Picturesque Views in England and Wales in 1836.

Updated December 2022

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Joseph Mallord William Turner

Joseph Mallord William Turner