Joseph Mallord William Turner

Eric Shanes has recognised the sketch on folio 66 recto (D09550) as a view of Barnstaple Bridge, with its sixteen arches over the River Taw (which Finberg misidentified as the twenty-four-arched bridge at nearby Bideford).1 Shanes relates it to a watercolour study (Tate D25443; Turner Bequest CCLXIII), which also incorporates details from folio 70 verso (D09555). The drawings in between, on this page and folios 67 recto, 69 recto and 70 recto (D09551, D09553, D09554), noted by Finberg as the ‘same bridge’ are therefore also identifiable as of Barnstaple. However, two drawings of a similar bridge on folio 79 recto and verso (D09564, D09565) do indeed, as Finberg suggested, show Bideford, as the latter sketch is annotated ‘24’.2

For other views of Barnstaple, see under D09550.

Verso:

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