Bell Rock Lighthouse
About this artwork
The Bell Rock Lighthouse, which is situated off the Angus coast south-east of Arbroath, is one of the greatest achievements of early nineteenth-century engineering. It was designed by Robert Stevenson and built between 1807 and 1811 on a partially submerged reef, using the latest and most revolutionary construction methods. In 1819, Stevenson commissioned Turner to design a frontispiece for his book Account of the Bell Rock Lighthouse. This watercolour was the result. Turner never actually visited the lighthouse, and probably based his design on drawings. It was subsequently engraved for Stevenson’s account by John Horsburgh and published in 1824.
Updated July 2022
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artist:Joseph Mallord William TurnerEnglish (1775 - 1851)
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title:Bell Rock Lighthouse
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date created:1819
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materials:Watercolour and gouache with scratching out on paper
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measurements:30.60 x 45.50 cm (framed: 59.40 x 72.10 x 5.00 cm)
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased by Private Treaty Sale 1989 with the aid of funds from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Pilgrim Trust
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accession number:D 5181 A
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gallery:
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glossary:
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Turner transformed the art of landscape painting in Britain. From detailed topographical studies to expansive, atmospheric vistas his works celebrate the diversity and emotive power of nature. He was born in Covent Garden, the son of a barber, and exhibited his earliest sketches in his father's...
