The Fine Art Collection at the University of Exeter includes around six hundred 19th century engravings based on sketches by JMW Turner. This month we focus on one of the rarer engravings in the collection, an engraver’s proof (an engraving in development before it gets published), which also features JMW Turner’s instructions to the engraver, in his own hand.

The scene is the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, and the engraving was commissioned for The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte in 'The Miscellaneous Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott, Bart' (Edinburgh and London: 1834-6, Cadell, and Whittaker & Co., vol. XIV); first published state, 1835.

Turner sketched this scene in 1832. The sketch was then reinterpreted in the form of an engraving by William Miller. Sir Walter Scott’s book of the Life of Napoleon Buonaparte had originally been published in 1827, but this new edition in 1835, including engraved scenes based on Turner's sketches, was published after the author's death, and formed part of a publication of his collected works.

The Significance of the Work

The choice of view and the details in this image, created 11 years after the death of Napoleon, are carefully chosen by Turner. In the foreground are two clearly inscribed tombs. One is that of Andre Massena (1758 – 1817) and the other is of Francois Joseph Lefebvre (1755 – 1820), both of whom were commanders in the Napoleonic wars.

The decision to depict Paris from a cemetery, with the tombs of Napoleon's commanders front and centre, hints at the fleeting nature of life and power.

In the distance, a domed building is accentuated by a shaft of light. It is ‘Les Invalides’ a war veterans' retirement home, hospital and burial ground. It is there that Napoleon himself is buried.

In contrast to the cemetery, is the huge sprawling - and living - city beyond, comprising not only homes and businesses but significant buildings such as the Pantheon and the Notre Dame, intimating that the dynamic life of the city of Paris both preceded and will continue beyond the rule of Napoleon.

Work In Progress

You will notice that there are handwritten notes in the margins of the engraving. These are notes to the engraver made by JMW Turner, instructing him to make changes to the sky, and some of the buildings in the city. Additionally the spelling on one of the tombs is incorrect. Interestingly Turner still got the spelling wrong, quoting ‘La Fabre’ instead of ‘Lefebvre’, so the published version, although altered from our engraving, still spells Lefebvre’s name incorrectly.

This annotation by Turner, does give us an indication of his intentions for the engravings, such as the use of light in the sky to illuminate 'Les Invalides', or as Turner described it in his note, 'Hospital'.

It is interesting to note that Turner took an active role in overseeing the engraving, ensuring that the intention of his work was realised.

If you look at the image below, you will see the engraving in its published state. You may be able to spot the differences in the sky and the spelling on the tomb.

Here is a closer view of Turner's instructions. Can you decipher them?

Scroll down to see what we think it says.

Turner's handwriting is not easy to decipher. Here is what we think it says:

More instead in shape and form. Yet make all the sky into [? ] forms like my [mastery?] to accord with those you have done and then lighten instead the whole sky in tone.