Joseph Mallord William Turner

See notes to folio 78 verso of the sketchbook (D10549; Turner Bequest CXL 70a) for a run of sketches associated by Eric Shanes with Turner’s watercolour Richmond Terrace, Surrey (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool)1 engraved by J.T. Willmore in 1836 for Picturesque Views in England and Wales, but surely earlier and related to other Richmond subjects as well. Butlin and Joll cite this drawing along with others running to folio 90 (D10572; Turner Bequest CXL 82) as similar in general terms to the composition of England: Richmond Hill, on the Prince Regent’s Birthday (Tate N00502)2 exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1819. Here, as in other views on folios 87 verso–89 (D10567–D10570; Turner Bequest CXL 79a–80), Turner emphasises the tall trees that are such graceful features in that picture, framing the composition on either side. This sketch might have helped to form the central part of the picture, with the Thames in the middle distance to left of centre and three trees in the foreground to right.