Joseph Mallord William Turner

Finberg tentatively suggested the setting as English, which is not unlikely, and placed it somewhat arbitrarily in a large ‘Miscellaneous: black and white’ grouping dated between about 1830 and 1841.1 This rural scene with what appears to be a prominent defensive ruin has since eluded identification and further comment. It was presumably drawn directly during an unidentified tour, and is placed in the present section and given the widest date range assigned to other works here pending further investigation, although it could well be earlier.

The reproduction shows the lower half of the once folded sheet only, the upper being blank; the half with the drawing measures 114 x 184 mm.

Verso:

Blank, with slight staining; inscribed in pencil ‘CCCXLI 399’ top right, ascending vertically, and ‘399’ bottom left, upside down.