Joseph Mallord William Turner

This is one of a series of drawings of Conwy in this book; the others are on folios 81–86 (D01304–D01306, D01336, D01307, D01308; Turner Bequest XXXVIII 50a, 51, 52, 82, 53, 54). Here the viewpoint is the town foreshore, looking south-east past the castle down the estuary of the Conwy. The town and castle at Conwy are among the best preserved medieval ensembles in Britain, with Edward I’s huge fortress the focus of a tightly knit community enclosed within high walls, still almost completely intact. Turner had already made a drawing looking along the length of the walls towards the castle, possibly copying a watercolour by Edward Dayes (1763–1804) at the behest of his early patron Dr Monro; see Tate D36355 (Turner Bequest CCCLXXI M).

Verso:

Blank; stamped in brown ink with Turner Bequest monogram.