Artwork
Ponte delle Turchette
Ponte delle Turchette is a watercolor work on paper by the Contemporary Realist artist Carole Robb. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Carole Robb painted Ponte delle Turchette in 2004 with watercolour. It shows a spot in Rome. The work comes from a set of fourteen pieces she made on a trip in 2003-04.
Like other British artists who studied in Rome in the 1970s, Robb chose a realistic style over abstract art. This piece follows older Italian views of the same places.
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Overview
Ponte delle Turchette is a watercolour painted in 2004 by British artist Carole Robb. The work depicts a specific location in Rome and forms part of a series of fourteen drawings that record her travels through the city, the surrounding area of Tivoli, and the Veneto region during 2003‑04.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a realistic view of the Ponte delle Turchette, a bridge that spans a Roman waterway. By focusing on a recognizable architectural feature, Robb continues a tradition of documenting place through careful observation, inviting viewers to consider the continuity of the urban landscape.
Technique & Style
Robb employs a figurative approach rooted in the techniques of old‑master painting, favoring precise line and subtle colour modulation over abstract expression. Her watercolour handling balances detail with atmospheric effects, creating a clear yet nuanced representation of the scene.
History & Provenance
The drawing belongs to a set catalogued as E.3719‑3732‑2004 in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was produced during Robb’s 2003‑04 journey across central and northern Italy, a trip that followed her earlier studies at the British School in Rome in the 1970s.
Context
Robb’s series offers a contemporary counterpart to the V&A’s historic collection of Grand Tour watercolours from the 18th and early 19th centuries. While the earlier works reflected the tastes of aristocratic travelers, Robb’s pieces present a modern, artist‑driven perspective on the same locales.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carole Robb painted delicate watercolours of Italian cityscapes and canals in the early 2000s.
