Joseph Mallord William Turner

Inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation, the view is south-eastwards across the River Thames from the Oxfordshire town, with an octagonal toll house (now gone) on the left on the far side of the bridge of 1786–7, as seen in a 1792 engraving by Samuel Ireland (1744–1800);1 compare the surviving structure by the Thames at Cookham. The parapet in the foreground has since been extended to the left with a stone balustrade.

The bridge is seen in the distance in the 1805 Thames, from Reading to Walton sketchbook (Tate D05911, D05912; Turner Bequest XCV 7, 8). A slight drawing in the Finance sketchbook (Tate D08292; Turner Bequest CXXII 6a) also shows Henley. For other Thames views in the present book, see under folio 2 recto (D17775); there are views apparently around Hambleden Lock, about a mile down-river from the town, on folio 27 recto (D17807).

Technical notes:

John Ruskin’s customary red ink page number at the bottom right is not readily apparent here, although those on other leaves of this sketchbook are generally very faint.

Verso:

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