J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

Although Finberg has read Turner’s inscription on this inverted sketchbook page as reading ‘Rokeby Moat House’ there seems to be no building in the picture, and indeed there is no moat at Rokeby Park. The inscription certainly refers to Rokeby, however, and the view is most likely to be of the River Greta as in the opposite page of this sketchbook (folio 10 verso; D25543). There are several sketches of Rokeby Park and views near by in this sketchbook. For all references see folio 30 (D25581).

Also across this page and 10 verso are lines indicating the outline of hills. These do not seem to be related to the main sketch on either page; rather they probably represent distant mountains such as the Pennines, off to the west.