J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

This view, taken from the bank of a river, includes a bridge, with seven arches, and various shipping motifs in the foreground. Some of the vessels include figures, delineated by the artist’s characteristic fluid dashes of pencil. Another group of figures is visible on the bridge. A cluster of buildings can be seen on the opposing bank, highlighted by dabs of white gouache, a technique which is particularly effective against the background of the blue paper. An apparent inscription by Turner in the centre of the composition may provide some clue as to the precise subject, location or occasion of the drawing, however, an affirmative transcription has, to date, proved elusive, and the calligraphic marks may be unrelated to the scene.

In his 1909 Inventory of the Turner Bequest, A.J. Finberg included the present picture among a sequence of drawings on blue paper, which he described as ‘mostly connected with the “French Rivers” series’ (see the Introduction to this section for an overview of the details and relevance of Finberg’s classification of these works).1

Verso:

Blank, except for inscription in pencil ‘107 . O’ bottom right.