Joseph Mallord William Turner

Inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation, the details of this lighthouse suggest the one at Le Hourdel, Picardy, on the west side of the Somme Estuary where it meets the Channel north-east of Le Tréport (see folio 55 recto; D35583). Compare folio 54 recto (D35581), and see the sketchbook’s Introduction for other identified subjects along this coast.

The blank recto is inscribed by John Ruskin in red ink ‘61’ and stamped in black ‘CCCLXI – 61’ at the bottom right. For numerous instances of blank, unaccessioned rectos in this sketchbook, see the technical notes in the Introduction.

Technical notes:

There is some brown staining at the gutter, possibly indicating water damage in the 1928 Tate flood.