Joseph Mallord William Turner

This appears to be a view from inside the small harbour at Minehead, with the pier on the left and the quay on the right, looking south-east across Blue Anchor Bay, with the Conygar Tower on its hill at Dunster silhouetted at the centre. There is a comparable view towards Dunster on folio 181 verso (D08699; CXXIII 178v). The squarish, three-storey building on the right is recorded in a loose manner which, combined with its uneven roofline, suggests a ruined shell. For other views of Dunster, see under folio 19 verso (D08398).

The configuration of the boats’ masts suggest they those seen in the distance from the opposite direction in the wider view of Minehead in the Somerset and North Devon sketchbook (Tate D08956; Turner Bequest CXXVI 10).

Technical notes:

There is a little offsetting towards the bottom from the ink inscription on folio 204 verso opposite (D08731; CXXIII 201a)

Verso:

Blank