Joseph Mallord William Turner

Abbotsford

1831

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Artist: Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of: Abbotsford Sketchbook
Medium: Graphite on paper
Dimensions: Support: 113 x 185 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference: D25958
Turner Bequest CCLXVII 17

Catalogue entry

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 2

Above 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’.3

For references to Turner’s other sketches of Abbotsford see folio 16 verso.

Thomas Ardill
September 2009

Finley 1972, p.383 note 143.

Robert Cadell, ‘Abbotsford Diary’, Monday 8 August 1831, National Library of Scotland, MS Acc. 5188, Box 12, folio 109; Finley 1972, p.383.

Robert Cadell, ‘Abbotsford Diary’, Tuesday 9 August 1831, folio 111; Finley 1972, p.384 note 144.

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