Bingen on the Rhine; View of the Mäuseturm and Castle Ehrenfels
Turner produced the study for this watercolour after he had crossed the Nahe near Bingen. Turner depicted the »Binger Loch« – the perilous narrow passage in the Rhine near Bingen – from both sides of the river in numerous sketches. The resulting watercolour, painted at a later date, shows a perspective that Turner would have had from on board a boat. This explains the relatively symmetrical composition of the picture. The »Mäuseturm« (Mouse Tower) is visible in the distance, whilst the hill on the right bank is flanked by Castle Ehrenfels. These structures were built by the Archbishop of Mainz to enable him to collect tolls from the boatmen at the »Binger Loch« bottleneck.
Watercolour, 1817
Medium: watercolour and gouache on grey-washed paper
Dimensions: 194 x 311 mm
Collection: private collection
Reference: TW1871; Wilton 679
Hiking: You can reach the southern starting point of the RheinBurgenWeg hiking trail in approx. 10 min.
In the nearby »Museum am Strom« you can learn interesting facts about Hildegard von Bingen, Rhine Romanticism and the town’s Roman history.
Address: Rhein-Nahe-Eck
Site: Installation of the Turner plaque is scheduled for summer 2024
Public Transport: »Bingen (Rhein) Hbf« main railway station: approx. 10 min. walk
By bike: slight detour from the Rheinradweg cycle route: approx. 2 min.
Parking: »Gerbhausstraße« car park approx. 5 min. walk away