The Devil’s Bridge in Blera (VT, Italy) in a painting by William Turner
• A new site identification is proposed for a landscape painted by J.M.W. Turner. • Geomorphological and topographic analysis refutes earlier site identifications. • Historical images were used to assess vegetation change and spatial consistency. • Key visual elements (bridge, path) were matched with real-world references. • An integrated visual approach enhances landscape interpretation in art heritage. In his constant search for inspiration, William Turner embarked on numerous trips to Europe, especially Italy. The Italian landscape, rich in history and nature, profoundly influenced his artistic production, frequently resurfacing in his later paintings. During these trips, Turner produced a substantial number of sketches and some paintings, often of landscapes that were difficult to identify. One such painting, created during his second visit to Italy in 1828, was tentatively attributed to Civita di Bagnoregio (VT) or Pitigliano (GR). This study proposes to revisit these hypotheses in light of new geomorphological and topographical evaluations, suggesting an alternative site in the countryside of Tuscia (VT) that Turner visited in 1828. This location matches all systematically compared characteristics, including the painting’s essential compositional elements, such as a small road and bridge, situated in a similar landscape context.
Institutions
- Regione Puglia (IT)
- Istituto per la Valorizzazione del Legno e delle Specie Arboree (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Cultural Heritage
- Published
- 2025-09-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.008
- Primary Topic
- Fixed Point Theorems Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00