Joseph Mallord William Turner

Finberg suggested that the rapid sketches of a large, dark interior on folios 3 recto and 5 recto (D17995, D17998) might show ‘a Banquet at the Mansion House’,1 meaning the neo-classical, so-called Egyptian Hall at the Lord Mayor of London’s official residence,2 but there seems to be no great resemblance, and the setting may be a London church or other grand interior. The sketch here seems to be related, albeit the only context for the lightly indicated, heavily annotated group of figures (perhaps in ceremonial dress) is the base of a large column in the brief continuation on folio 6 verso opposite (D18001).