Joseph Mallord William Turner

The subject was drawn with the page turned horizontally. The bridge, the only river crossing in York at the time, is seen from downstream, with the Minster beyond and St William’s Chapel on the southern shore at the left. Turner scholar David Hill notes that Turner seems to have made this drawing from a boat, but that he was being rowed at the time seems unlikely. He must have been moored long enough to make this controlled and highly detailed record. In fact, his vantage point could surely have been a boat moored beside the south bank. Another, closer view of the Ouse Bridge, looking across the river to St William’s Chapel, is on folio 87 recto (D01074; Turner Bequest XXXV 72).

Verso:

Blank; stamped in brown ink with Turner Bequest monogram; inscribed by A.J. Finberg in pencil ‘141.6 [?9]’ (rubbed) and ‘XXXV 69’.