J M W Turner, Open Landscape with a Kiln and Mountains Beyond, w/c

Recently discovered, this view across water, towards two men beside a kiln and with sunlit hills beyond, dates from the late 1790's.  It has been suggested that it was drawn by Turner in 1798 during his seven week tour of Wales.

Although in his early twenties, Turner was then an active teacher of watercolour drawing to amateurs.  He made drawings for his followers to copy, and some were left with the families of the pupil, therefore escaping literary records of his early work.  This watercolour may be such a case.  The composition is a simplified one, the hidden light source, the distant mountain, the profile of figures and trees, and the foreground of watercolour in shadow, would have been likely ingredients used by a teacher to explain compositional technique, and the achievement of an effective result.  Comparisons may be made with a view of The Bridge at Pontypridd, Glamorganshire (TB. XXXI-A) and further 'teaching drawings' (TBXXXI, XXXII).  The identity of this view remains unknown, but it comes from a folio of drawings acquired by the father of the present owner; the other drawings included works by Sir Robert Smirke (1780-1867), Mary Smirke (1779-1853) and Robert Smirke (1753-1845), pointing to a likely link between Turner and the Smirke family.  We know from Farington's Diary that Robert Smirke R.A. knew Turner well and was instrumental in choosing drawings from the young Turner.  On July 6^th 1799,  'Smirke and I, on our way to the Academy, drank tea with him (Turner) and looked over his sketch books.'  Two days later they had tea again, 'Robert Smirke was also there, 'who chose for me as a subject to be drawn by Turner, 'the view of  Lodore', and for himself, 'a view of Richmond in Yorkshire' (see A.J. Finberg, The Life of J.M.W. Turner, R.A., 1939, p.60)