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

At rear Turner has produced sketches of Walberswick (inscribed ‘WaWick’) and ‘Southwold’ on the Suffolk North Sea coast (see Tate D18259–D18262; Turner Bequest CCIX 52a–54). There are also rough and cursory jottings depicting coastal or river scenes, rendered in blunter and darker pencil. At centre there appears to be a sketch of a figure and a boat. The uppermost sketch is inscribed ‘Chifford’ (i.e. Chillesford) and ‘Butley Oyster’, which must refer to the oysters cultivated to this day on the Butley River. The remaining inscriptions are illegible.