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

From the road just south of Gilmonby Bridge near Gilmonby Hall, Turner made this sketch of the village of Bowes with the castle and Church of St Giles. The road is shown in the right foreground making a serpentine bend as it crosses the bridge over the River Greta. There are farm buildings on the south bank of the river at the left of the picture, and the square tower of the castle stands on a low hill above the north bank, with St Giles to its right and other buildings of Bowes village.

Emma House has suggested that this was Turner’s first sketch of the castle during this 1831 tour, although, considering his route during the visit and the order of drawings in the sketchbook, it is more likely to have been this third sketch after those on folio 30 verso and 31 (D25820, D25821).