Joseph Mallord William Turner

This sketch depicts cotton mills on the banks of the River Irwell at Manchester. The bridge at the right of the sketch is probably Blackfriar’s, which stands near to Manchester Cathedral (in Turner’s day, the Collegiate Church; folio 34; D25702). The church towers beyond may be those on the Salford side of the river, perhaps Trinity Church, and St Stephens. For further sketches made around this point, see folio 34 verso (D25703).

This sketch was reproduced in Gerald Wilkinson’s book, Turner’s Colour Sketches 1820–34,1 but is identified here for the first time.