Joseph Mallord William Turner

Inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation, this view to the north-west across Virginia Water continues across folio 74 verso opposite (D22115; Turner Bequest CCXXXVIII 72a), where a footbridge and other buildings are seen. Here the Chinese Fishing Temple (now gone) is seen obliquely on its moated island on the northern shore of the lake.

As Finberg noted,1 this is the main basis of the watercolour Virginia Water of about 1829 (private collection),2 one of two engraved for The Keepsake in 1830 (Tate impressions: T04618, T06141). For other views around Virginia Water, see under folio 73 verso (D22113; Turner Bequest CCXXXVIII 71a).