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

Across two pages (continuing on folio 37; D13521) are two views of the Firth of Forth taken from near Hopetoun. At the top is a view across to the north bank of the Forth with the island of ‘I[nch] Garvie’, and beneath this a view looking west along the south bank where the coast curves round to a promontory upon which sits Blackness Castle. There is another view of Blackness below this on folio 37, and Turner made similar sketches on a return visit in 1831 (Tate D26666; Turner Bequest CCLXXI 24a).

At the bottom left of the present page is a small sketch of the arch of a bridge inscribed ‘New Battle Road’. This is a road towards Gorebridge from Dalkeith that crosses the South Esk River. Turner is likely to have taken this road on his way to Borthwick Castle from Dalkeith, and another page in this sketchbook carries an inscription referring to ‘Lord New Battle’ (folio 52 verso; D13552).

There are further views of Blackness Castle on previous pages in this sketchbook (34 verso–36; D13516–D13519), and more sketches of the Firth of Forth continue on the following double page (37 verso–38; D13522–D13523).