1823
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Liber Studiorum: Watermill is a 1823 by Joseph Mallord William Turner, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows a quiet scene of a small watermill by a river. A person sits on a stone ledge under a tree, looking out over the water. Nearby, two buildings sit close to the bank—one with a slanted roof and a ladder leaning against it, the other with a large water wheel turning in the stream. A few people and animals move around the area, but everything feels still, like a moment frozen in time. The artist used simple lines to show light and shadow, making the scene feel calm and peaceful. The drawing focuses on everyday life near the water, with no grand gestures—just the steady rhythm of the mill and the quiet figures. Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this sketch in person.
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in 1775 at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, where his father kept a barber and wig-making shop.
See the richer artist page
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