Joseph Mallord William TurnerFour Field Hands with Scythes c.1807

Drawn with the sketchbook inverted. With other sketches of reaping or harvesting scenes in this sketchbook, for example folios 67 verso and 71 verso (D06052, D06058), this was probably drawn near Cassiobury Park, which Turner visited at harvest time in 1807. The man at left is sharpening his scythe while others to the right are at work with theirs. For Turner’s visit to Cassiobury and his drawings in this sketchbook and other works elsewhere, see Introduction to the sketchbook.