Joseph Mallord William Turner

A series of sketches across this page show views of the shoreline of East Lothian, or perhaps views of distant hills. At the top of the page is a sketch of some buildings, perhaps made in connection to the sketch of Edinburgh on the previous page, rather than relating directly to the landscape shown on this one. At the bottom of the page is a drawing of a rock, which could perhaps show the shoal of rocks near Tantallon Castle called St Baldred’s Boat, or perhaps Fidra, or the Isle of May, also drawn earlier in this sketchbook (folio 4 verso, D13328; CLXV 4a). The numbers ‘4’ and ‘2’ are inscribed on the landscape, probably to remind Turner of particular colours or tones. There are similar sketches of coastlines on folio 63 (D13433; CLXV 61).