Sketches in folios 14–18 (
D25787–D25795) are of Kendal at the south-east of the Lake District. These appear in the sketchbook following views of Preston (folios 8–13;
D25776–D25786) and directly preceding views near Keswick (folios 18 verso–24 verso;
D25796–D25808).
This was Turner’s second visit to Kendal following his northern tour of 1816. Sketches in the
Yorkshire 2 and
Yorkshire 4 sketchbooks show that he was concerned with depicting the same views as in 1831: the Parish Church and Castle (Tate
D11061,
D11062,
D11517 and
D40842; Turner Bequest CXLV 13a, 14, CXLVII 44a and inside back cover); and views from the south (Tate
D11090,
D11091 and
D11516; Turner Bequest CXLV 34a, 35 and CXLVII 44).
Views of Kendal in the present sketchbook begin here on folio 14 with a sketch of the Parish Church. This view was taken from opposite the thirteenth-century church on the eastern side of the River Kent, and looks south down the river towards the three-arched Nether Bridge. Beneath the church are a series of numbers, which refer to how many arches are in each window (at the bottom row only). The trees behind the church are reflected in the water.
There is a view of the River Kent from the other side of Nether Bridge on folio 16 (
D25791), and a view of the bridge over the river on folio 18 (
D25795). Kendal Castle is sketched on folios 15 and 15 verso (
D25789,
D25790), and there are views of the town from the south on folios 14 verso–15, and 16 verso–17 (
D25788–D25789,
D25792–D25793). There are also views of nearby mountains on folio 17 verso (
D25794).
Thomas Ardill
September 2009
