Fußweg südlicher Ortsausgang von Bacharach , Blick Richtung Bacharach
Oberstraße 10, 55422 Bacharach
Footpath at the end of Bacharach, view of Bacharach
In this watercolour sketch Turner records the main architectural contours of Bacharach. The castle, the church, the monastery and the town’s towers all appear in their actual positions. There was good reason for this, as the watercolour served as the basis for an engraving for an illustrated edition of the Life and Works of Lord Byron. It was subsequently bought by John Ruskin, Turner’s most prominent apologist. In other watercolours and sketches of the town he rearranges the buildings, setting them close together to achieve a particularly imposing effect. This watercolour is also a good example of Turner’s efforts to dissolve contours and representations in expanses of colour.
Castle, church, monastery, and the city towers correspond to their real positions. Not without reason, because the watercolor served as a plate for an illustrated edition on the life and work of Lord Byron. Later, it was purchased by John Ruskin – Turner's most significant apologist. In other watercolors and sketches of the city, he re-composes the buildings, condensing them to achieve a particularly impressive effect. The watercolor is also a fine example of Turner's effort to dissolve contours and objectivity into colored areas.
