Martello Towers Near Bexhill, Sussex, plate 34 from Liber Studiorum

Art Historical Context

Joseph Mallord William Turner created this evocative print as plate 34 in his ambitious Liber Studiorum series, published in June 1811. The project, which spanned over a decade, allowed Turner to explore and categorize various types of landscape through the medium of print, elevating the status of landscape art in British culture. Here, the coastal scene near Bexhill, Sussex, captures the quiet strength of Martello towers—defensive structures that dotted the English shoreline during a period of national vigilance. Rendered in etching and engraving in brown ink on ivory wove paper, the work demonstrates Turner’s masterful command of tonal effects and atmospheric perspective. The combination of etched lines and engraved details creates a rich, layered texture that brings depth to the sky, sea, and rugged towers. Measuring just under 18 by 26 centimeters in the image area, this modest-sized print nonetheless conveys a powerful sense of place and historical moment. As part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings collection, this piece highlights Turner’s innovative approach to reproductive printmaking. By personally overseeing the production of the Liber Studiorum plates, he ensured that his artistic vision reached a wider audience, bridging painting and print in ways that influenced generations of landscape artists.

About the Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner · 1775–1851

Joseph Mallord William Turner, born on 23 April 1775 in London's Covent Garden to barber William Turner and Mary Marshall, emerged as a child prodigy amid personal hardships. His mother suffered mental illness and died in Bethlem Hospital in 1804, while his father supported his early sketches by displaying them in his shop. Around age 10, Turner stayed with his uncle Joseph Mallord William Marshal...