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

Of the three rapidly executed views in Rotterdam down this page, two are inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation. The first is a sketch of shipping in a harbour, possibly the Nieuwe Haven, although indications of significant buildings are lacking. The middle view includes the Wester Nieuwe Hoofdpoort (or Wittepoort) gateway with its cupola, shown more clearly on the recto (D32603; see also folio 43 verso and 44 recto; D32625–D32626; CCCXXII 44a, 45); this view continues across folio 33 recto opposite (D32605; Turner Bequest CCCXXII 34). The bottom drawing, the other way up, is a rapid sketch of an elevating ‘ophaalbrug’-type bridge, with what appear to be masts of moored boats to each side and loose indications of buildings beyond.

Although the layout of central Rotterdam’s streets and harbours has been broadly preserved, very few buildings (notably St Lawrence’s Church) survived destruction in May 1940, and identification is based largely on earlier visual documentation; see under folio 14 recto (D32568; CCCXXII 15) for other views in and around the city in this book and elsewhere.