Engraved by Wallis after Turner. ( England and Wales. Rawlinson 235. Wilton 811.)
Ruskin thought the engraving was a particularly poor representation of the original watercolour ( MP I:257). His later discussions of the work concentrate on interpreting its symbolism: that of the lightning and the dead shepherd in Modern Painters V (1860) ( Works, 7.189-91), and again in the 1870s, 'the fall of the Druidical religion'( Works, 21.223).
J.M.W. Turner 1775-1851
Stonehenge, Wiltshire c.1827
Watercolour on paper, 27.9x40.4cm
Exhibitions: EH 1829; MBG 1833 (58)
Engraving:
Engraved by R. Wallis, 1829
Copper engraving, 16.5x23.5cm
Engraved for the England and Wales series
Provenance: Samuel Rogers, sale Christie 8/5/1856 (1255a). Bt. Wallis; W.G. Rawlinson; Agnew 1924; T.A. Tatton, sale Christie 14/12/1928 (13), bt. Agnew; Lord Horder
Further Comments: The 'Stonehenge' was lent to the 1833 exhibition at the Moon, Boys and Graves Gallery by S. Rogers. The sketch for this composition can be found in the 'Studies for Pictures' sketchbook.
Collection: Private Collection, UK, on loan to Salisbury Art Gallery
For a reproduction of this artistic work, please consult: Shanes, Eric, Turner's Picturesque Views in England and Wales, (Chatto & Windus, 1979), p.30/pl.25