Joseph Mallord William Turner

This sketch records a view of Fountains Hall and Abbey from a little way west, beyond the bridge over the River Skell. Turner also made a more expansive study from a similar angle but further away in the Yorkshire 3 sketchbook (Tate D11384; Turner Bequest CXLVI 10), which also accompanied Turner on this tour in 1816. The present sketch seems to have been made to record close detail that might have been required for a finished composition developed from the more distant view. The numbers ‘4’ and ‘5’ refer to crenellations on the square towers and perhaps to stages on the gables, respectively.

Fountains Hall was built by Stephen Proctor between 1598 and 1604. It is a particularly fine example of a late Elizabethan mansion, and is now owned by the National Trust as part of the Fountains Abbey estate.