This is one of the most important of Turner’s early sketchbooks. It shows Turner around the age of 21 exploring a wide range of subjects, from architecture to sweeping landscape views, and developing his understanding of colour. The book is made up of cheap blue paper over which Turner has applied a red-coloured ground. This ground acts as a reinforcement and would have enabled him to work up the drawings to a higher level of finish without damaging the paper.
Gallery label, October 2023
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