Joseph Mallord William Turner

Beyond the waterfront of Swanage itself, the bay is seen from the south-west with Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks in the distance. Turner’s high viewpoint is from about the present junction of Peveril Road and Durlston Road above Park Road. The drawing on folio 11 recto (D08818) is from Durlston Head, with the ridge from which the present view was made shown in the middle distance from the south, suggesting that Turner approached Swanage from that direction. The large building with a hipped roof may be the house on the High Street facing the original stone pier, later a hotel and now the Royal Victoria Apartments; its main façade is seen in the drawing from the opposite direction on folio 15 verso (D08822).

Further views of Swanage harbour follow on folios 13 recto and 14 recto (D08820, D08821).

Technical notes:

A piece missing from the bottom left-hand corner has been made good.

Verso:

Blank, with slight rubbing.