A ruined fort near Salerno

John Robert Cozens based this view of a crumbling fort on a sketch made during a trip to Italy. The careful rendering of vegetation and clouds attests to the artist’s close study of nature. However, the overall focus is on mood rather than exact representation. Cozens achieved rich colour effects by applying multiple layers of wash to the sheet. His painterly handling profoundly influenced younger watercolourists, especially J.M.W. Turner, whose view of Rome is displayed on this wall.