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

ISBN 978-1-84976-386-8
J.M.W. Turner > 1819-29 Italy and after > George IV’s visit to Edinburgh 1822 > King's Visit to Edinburgh Sketchbook > Artwork

Joseph Mallord William Turner The Royal Squadron Perhaps with the Royal George 1822

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Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Royal Squadron Perhaps with the Royal George’ 1822
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Folio 70 Recto:
The Royal Squadron Perhaps with the Royal George 1822
D17629
Turner Bequest CC 70
Pencil on white wove paper, 114 x 187 mm
Inscribed in pencil by Turner ?‘alalma | [...]’ centre
Inscribed in red ink by John Ruskin ‘70’ top left inverted
Stamped in black ‘CC 70’ top left inverted
 
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
This sketch of shipping at Leith, made with the sketchbook inverted, focuses on a large vessel seen from stern-on with other vessels of the royal squadron at anchor and boats under sail. Like the boat on folio 6 verso (D17519), and the boats on folio 71 (D17631), identified by Finley as the Royal George, this vessel has flags flying from each of its three masts. There also appears to be a small boat to its right with several figures on board. This sketch may therefore show the Royal George (see folio 4; D17514), with perhaps Sir Walter Scott arriving to greet the King (see folio 49 verso; D17590). The two inscriptions on the page may refer to the arrival of boats, but they are obscure and do no match any of the boats recorded to be part of the royal squadron.1

Thomas Ardill
August 2008

1
For a full list of vessels of the royal squadron see Robert Mudie, An Historical Account of His Majesty’s Visit to Scotland, Edinburgh 1822, p.82.

How to cite

Thomas Ardill, ‘The Royal Squadron Perhaps with the Royal George 1822 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, August 2008, in David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, Tate Research Publication, December 2012, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-the-royal-squadron-perhaps-with-the-royal-george-r1132970, accessed 27 April 2024.