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

As recognized by Finberg, the main sketch on this page is at least partly concerned with capturing a view of Oxford rendered from a position to the west of the city.1 Distinctive spires puncture the linear urban profile at the right of the page; St Mary’s church seems to be visible at far left, the dome of the Radcliffe Camera sits in the centre of the urban sprawl, and All Saints Church, All Souls College, Christ Church Cathedral and Magdalen College appear to the right.

In the foreground, which is largely elaborated at the left of the page, Turner indicates the beginning of a meandering road, and some tall trees arching slightly over it. A collection of roofs denoting a town is described amongst the trees, and the tower of a church is expressed towards the gutter, possibly at North Hinksey.

This view is similar to another drawing of Oxford made at the beginning of the sketchbook on folio 2 recto (D17209). Colin Harrison cites both pages as evidence of a journey made by Turner, stating that he begun to the west of the city on folio 2 recto, moved towards Sunningwell as displayed on folio 17 recto (D17234), and then returned to Oxford ‘to leave by the London road past Nuneham Courtenay’ as clear from this and the facing page, folio 88 recto (D17357).2 Harrison describes this group of drawings as ‘rapid notes, and not intended for anything more than to satisfy the artist’s innate need to sketch’.3

For additional presumed or identified views of Oxford and the surrounding area in this sketchbook, see the inside front cover, and folios 1 recto and verso, 2 verso, and 5 recto (D40685, D17207–D17208, D17210, D17214).