Ville de Thun, Switzerland (Liber Studiorum, part XII, plate 59)

Art Historical Context

**Ville de Thun, Switzerland** from J.M.W. Turner's ambitious *Liber Studiorum* series captures the sublime beauty of the Swiss Alps in 1816. This etching and mezzotint, the third state of three, depicts the picturesque town of Thun nestled by Lake Thun, with boats gliding on the water, elegant buildings lining the shore, and figures of women adding a touch of human scale. Part of Turner's *Liber Studiorum* (Book of Studies), published in 14 parts from 1807 to 1819, the series was the artist's homage to 17th-century master Claude Lorrain, showcasing varied landscape categories like mountainous and architectural scenes to educate and inspire print collectors. Printed with collaborator Thomas Hodgetts, the work exemplifies mezzotint's velvety tonal range, allowing Turner to evoke dramatic light effects and atmospheric depth on a modest plate size of 7 1/16 x 10 inches. As a Romantic innovator, Turner elevated printmaking to rival painting, making grand visions accessible. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1951, this piece highlights his influence on later Impressionists, inviting visitors to ponder the interplay of nature's majesty and human endeavor in early 19th-century Europe.

About the Artist

Joseph Mallord William Turner|Thomas Hodgetts|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...