Turner's Secret Sketches

The first volume dedicated solely to J.M.W. Turner’s erotic works gathers a remarkable selection of sensual and passionate drawings from the Tate collection. This lavishly illustrated book examines an overlooked aspect of the artist’s oeuvre, placing Turner's intimate drawings in the context of his social milieu, evolving attitudes toward private versus public consumption, and the course of his life and output. Ian Warrell contributes an original essay, fully reproduced here, offering a nuanced reassessment of a long-standing historiography about destruction rumors and the Turner Bequest held at Tate Britain. The volume invites scholars, connoisseurs, and Turner devotees alike to explore a facet of Britain’s most prolific and beloved artist with clarity and scholarly care.

The book presents a detailed, context-rich study of Turner's erotic drawings, highlighting how these works relate to his broader practice and the era’s cultural preoccupations.

This edition is a hardcover publication with 144 pages, part of Tate Publishing’s catalog, presenting high-quality reproduction and scholarly apparatus for study and appreciation.

Features

• Exclusively devoted to Turner's erotic works
• Drawings from the Tate collection
• Warrell's detailed contextual essay
• Hardcover, 144 pages
• Published by Tate Publishing, 2018
• Ian Warrell (Auteur)