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

With the sketchbook turned to the right, this view of Appleby (now known as Appleby-in-Westmorland) is structured around three of the most distinctive features of the town: the church of St Lawrence at the right, the bridge over the River Eden, and, the keep of Appleby Castle (Caesar’s Tower) on a hill behind the church). There is a second sketch of Appleby on the opposite page of the sketchbook (folio 16; D25554), a view of Appleby Castle on folio 16 verso (D25555), and what may be John Smirke’s Cloisters in the Market Square on folio 17 (D25556).

Turner’s coach stopped at Appleby on its journey between Penrith and Bernard Castle, giving the artist the opportunity to make these few sketches. His inscription ‘Appleby’ on this page along with ‘Rokeby’ (also inscribed several times in this book) gave this sketchbook its title. Turner’s next scheduled stop was at the village of Brough, about eight miles to the east of Appleby, where he made further sketches (folio 36; D25593).