Joseph Mallord William Turner

Finberg notes two views, but in fact there appear to be four: a main view across the middle of the page, with variations at the top right and bottom right, with a further coastal sketch squeezed in above the latter. The three variations, perhaps drawn from a boat, all show similar views of the Polruan blockhouse to the left, looking south towards the mouth of the Fowey Estuary, with the Fowey side and the profile of St Catherine’s Castle to the right. A full-page view from a similar angle appears on folio 46 verso opposite (D08450). For other views in and around Fowey see under folio 5 verso (D08371).

Technical notes:

Peter Bower reproduces the page as a ‘transmitted light detail and look-through’, showing the part of the watermark found on the blank sheets of writing paper interleaved between the sheets printing paper carrying the engraved text of Coltman’s British Itinerary through most of this book (see the introduction to the sketchbook).