Artwork
View of the Danube and Regensburg cathedral at sunset
View of the Danube and Regensburg cathedral at sunset is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Joseph Mallord William Turner. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour painting by Joseph Mallord William Turner captures a serene dusk scene along the Danube River, with the silhouette of Regensburg cathedral visible in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a specific location: Regensburg on the Danube, identified through research by Cecilia Powell as a stop on Turner’s 1840 Danube tour, correcting earlier misattributions to Lyons.
Technique & Style
Turner employed watercolour to achieve a dreamy, alive quality, characterized by blurred edges, soft glowing light, and pale, suggestive strokes for distant architectural details.
History & Provenance
Originally misdated to circa 1846 and misidentified as depicting Lyons, the work’s accurate subject and date (related to Turner’s 1840 Danube journey) were clarified by researcher Cecilia Powell.
Context
Created during Turner’s travels along the Danube in 1840, the piece reflects his interest in capturing European landscapes at poignant moments of day.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in 1775 at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, where his father kept a barber and wig-making shop.
