Joseph Mallord William Turner

The second of two sketches, preceded as folio 6 by D11947, Turner Bequest CL 28, recording a dark horse being ridden along wet sands. To the left here is the skeleton of an old hulk or a ship being built, and to the right a two-master at anchor. Beyond the horse a number of buildings tumble down to the shore. If Scarborough, there is no sign of the harbour or castle, but indications in the distance here suggest foggy conditions, so perhaps all else is obscured. The setting does indeed appear to be the south bay at Scarborough, for a similar skeletal ship occurs seen from the opposite direction in a readily identifiable sketch of the south bay (D11944; Turner Bequest CL 25).

Verso:

Blank, except for inscription by ?John Ruskin in red ink ‘168 I’ bottom left (see notes to folio 3, D11945; Turner Bequest CL 26).