Joseph Mallord William Turner

With the sketchbook turned horizontally, Turner filled much of this page with a depiction of Montivilliers viewed from rising ground to the south. This small town is situated about seven miles north-east of the port at Le Havre and is dominated by the Romanesque Church of Saint-Sauveur. Particular attention has been paid here to this landmark’s looming presence and to the way in which the lantern tower and spire rise up to pierce the horizon. Turner’s interest in the picturesque potential of this town culminated in a gouache and watercolour sketch of around this date; Tate D24650 (Turner Bequest CCLIX 85). A list of pages in this volume featuring views of Montivilliers is provided in the entry for folio 96 recto (D24071; Turner Bequest CCLIV 96).