Joseph Mallord William Turner

Eric Shanes confirmed Finberg’s tentative identification of the subject as Coventry,1 in general relation to Turner’s watercolour Coventry of about 1832 (British Museum, London),2 engraved in 1833 for the Picturesque Views in England and Wales (Tate impression: T06105). From left to right to the north are the spires of Holy Trinity Church, St Michael’s Cathedral, and (the nearest from this viewpoint) Christchurch, seen from the vicinity of Warwick Road. An isolated study of the latter spire appears on folio 12 recto opposite (D22341), while the other two are shown in detail on folio 15 verso (D22348).

There is also a similar view of the city from a little further east in the contemporary Kenilworth sketchbook (Tate D22051, D22052; Turner Bequest Turner Bequest CCXXXVIII 40a–41). For other Coventry views, see under folio 9 verso (D22336).