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

With the sketchbook turned to the right this page has been used for three sketches (as with folio 86; D13728; CLXVII 78). At the top and in the middle are two sketches of Crichton Castle from the north. The vantage point seems to be lower than in the previous sketch in this book (D13730; CLXVII 79) and Turner may have descended the bank of the vale to the Tyne River in order to include it in his picture. Here we see the banks of the river which are more verdant than the steep empty slopes, with trees fringing the river, and, in the top sketch, framing the view at the right. In both drawings the castle is rather roughly sketched although it is possible to tell, with reference to the drawing on folio 86, that the middle drawing shows more of the castle’s west range. From this slightly altered vantage point it is also just possible to make out the nearby stable block (see folio 86) to the right of the castle, identifiable by its roofless gables.

At the bottom of the page, drawn with the book in its usual orientation, is a sketch of Crichton Collegiate Church and the castle (continued on folio 88; D13732; CLXVII 80). The view is from the north-west and looks along the Tyne valley, where an arched bridge crosses the river, and up the bank to the church and castle.