Studies related to the Picturesque Views in England and Wales Series (1825-39)
From about 1825 until 1839, Turner worked on another commissioned set of topographical prints: Picturesque Views in England and Wales. Drawing on sketches made on recent travels, but also on journeys made more than thirty years earlier, he developed some of his finest work in watercolour. Several of these preliminary studies are little more than suggestive washes of colour, while others advance an image to a more resolved state. The watercolours from which the prints were made are generally considered to be among his greatest works.

The England and Wales series was intended to consist of one hundred and twenty prints though only ninety-six were engraved and published by Charles Heath (1785-1848) between 1825 and 1839. Over the years the works were distributed in parts made up of four images, contained in a paper wrapper. As usual, Turner oversaw the production of the final prints. Towards the mid-1830s the project was adversely affected by financial problems and the fact that the market was glutted by Turner's work for other projects. Not only was Turner a prolific printmaker himself, but by this time copies after some of his images were being made by unauthorised publishers. Unfortunately, Heath went bankrupt on the project and Turner felt forced to buy the complete group of copper plates, as well as the remaining stock of prints, at the 1839 bankruptcy auction. This allowed him to prevent further pirate editions of his work by unscrupulous publishers, but at tremendous personal cost. The many thousands of unsold impressions remained in his house until after his death.