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

Gerald Finley has identified the main drawing on this page as the ‘Crane for installing the foundation stone of the National Monument’ and explains:

The ceremony for the laying of the stone was held on 27 August 1822, and Turner witnessed the event from the top of Nelson’s Monument just a few yards to the south on Calton Hill, from where he made a series of rapid sketches recording the progress of the ceremony (see folio 22 verso; D17540). This sketch, however, was clearly made from a lower vantage point, probably near the foot of the Monument, and demonstrates a very different approach to the subject. This precise line drawing carefully depicts the foundation and covering stones as well as the two platforms to the west and east where the officials of the ceremony were seated.2 Turner has paid particular attention to the crane, just as he took an interest in the launching crane of the Royal George on folio 5 verso of this sketchbook (D17517): both complex pieces of machinery that he would find hard to reproduce without a precise sketch. To the right of the stone are a series of triangular shapes. These are probably the artillerymen’s bell-tents which were pitched on the slopes of Calton Hill. The artillerymen were there to maintain the twelve guns that were placed on the hill during George IV’s visit and used to fire salutes at various points including during the laying of the foundation stone.3

At the top right of the page is the continuation from folio 35 (D17562) of a drawing of the view along the Firth of Forth towards Barnbougle Castle. There are two further views along the Forth at the left of this page, both drawn with the sketchbook turned to the right.