Joseph Mallord William Turner

A church probably existed at Jedburgh in the early ninth century; the grand buildings of which substantial ruins survive today were begun soon after the establishment of an abbey in about 1154, testimony to the aspirations of King David I of Scotland to spiritual authority. The buildings fell into ruin after the Reformation, though parts continued to be used as a parish church until the later nineteenth century.

The subject is drawn with the page turned horizontally. Turner made another view of Jedburgh on the next page, folio 68 recto (D00973; Turner Bequest XXXIV 64). David Hill suggests that he discussed these subjects with Thomas Girtin (1775–1802), who exhibited views of Jedburgh at the Royal Academy in the 1797 exhibition, just before Turner began his tour. He returned to Jedburgh in connection with his work on Scott’s Poetical Works and a made a watercolour (Taft Museum, Cincinnati)1 that was engraved in 1833 by Robert Brandard (Tate impression: T04947).

Verso:

Blank; stamped in brown ink with Turner Bequest monogram.