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

Turner arrived in Kelso late on 9 August 1831 but went straight to bed. It was his second trip to the town, his first being in 1797. The next morning he set off early and was making studies of the ruins from close quarters by seven o’clock (folios 56–57; D26024–D26026; CCLXVII 58–59). Robert Cadell, who had accompanied the artist from Abbotsford the previous day, joined him here and the two men crossed the River Tweed by Kelso Bridge from where Turner made several further sketches (folio 21 verso; D25965; CCLXVII 21a), including the one on the present page. They then set off for nearby Roxburgh Castle (folio 22 verso; D25967; CCLXVII 22a), and from nearby Turner made another sketch of the abbey (folios 54 verso–55; D26021–D25022; CCLXVII 56a–57).1

The present sketch is the source of Turner’s watercolour, Kelso circa 1832 (whereabouts unknown),2 engraved for volume 3 of Sir Walter Scott’s Poetical Works.3 The view is from across the River Tweed to the south-east of the abbey, which is shown at the left of folio 20 (D25963; CCLXVII 20) where this drawing continues. Kelso Bridge fills the centre of the present page, and a little sketch at the bottom left shows one of the bridge’s pilasters. Above the bridge at the right of the present page is the Town House. The southern banks of the river are shown in the foreground at the left and right of the sketch, with a figure standing at the left who may be Robert Cadell.