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

Turner used this page horizontally both ways for various views around Coburg, as identified by Cecilia Powell.1 The largest shows the prospect east from the vicinity of Schloss Ernsthöhe (later Hohenfels), with the Veste Coburg fortress high in the distance, the small Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche near a bridge on the River Itz in the foreground (labelled ‘H C’ by Turner within the drawing, expanded to ‘‘Holy Cross [?Kreuz]’ towards the top right), and the town itself to the south-east. Extensive later development in the valley now precludes such a clear view. There is a closer view of the church on folio 25 recto opposite (D31324). The thumbnail sketch at the top right appears to be a reprise or variant of the man drawing.

Veste Coburg is shown on its own at the bottom left, and in its wider wooded context at the bottom right, the other way up, with a second profile of the castle beside it. The small disk in the sky presumably indicates the low morning sun. For numerous other views in and around Coburg in this sketchbook, see under folio 1 verso (D31278).2