Joseph Mallord William Turner

David Hill notes that this colour study is based on a detailed pencil sketch made over two sketchbook pages during Turner’s 1816 tour of Yorkshire1 (Tate D11555, D11556; Turner Bequest CXLVIII 19a and 20), the entry for which in the present catalogue also lists related pencil sketches. The study’s close relationship with drawings made during Turner’s 1816 tour and its likeness to other History of Richmondshire ‘colour beginnings’ suggest it belongs in this grouping, although no finished watercolour was made.

See also the introduction to the Richmondshire ‘colour beginnings’ grouping to which this study has been assigned.

Technical notes:

There is a vertical fold at the centre of the sheet. Fingerprints are visible in the area of blue paint to the bottom left.

Verso:

Blank, save for inscriptions: stamped in black ‘CXCVII-O’ bottom left; stamped in black with Turner Bequest monogram bottom left; written in pencil ‘CXCVII. O’ bottom right.