The various sketches of Abbotsford on this page were made on two days and are all accounted for in Robert Cadell’s diary. Starting at the top left is the continuation of a sketch from folio 16 verso (
D25957; CCLXVII 16a), which Turner made from near Langlee to the north of Abbotsford on 8 August (see folio 16 verso for references).
1 Along the bottom of the page are three small sketches of Abbotsford from directly across the Tweed to the west. Turner made these views after having made his sketch on folio 16 verso, as Robert Cadell explained in his diary:
we now crossed the Gala & drove to opposite Abbotsford. Mr Turner took two sketches from knolls opposite the house
2Above this, the largest sketch on the page has been matched by Gerald Finley to Cadell’s description of a view Turner took on the following day, 9 August 1831: ‘Mr T. took a sketch of the east end of the House after we got to the (?top) of the brae above the gardeners house’.
3For references to Turner’s other sketches of Abbotsford see folio 16 verso.
Thomas Ardill
September 2009
