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

Returning from Barnard Castle and Rokeby to Penrith, Turner took the opportunity to make this sketch of Brough Castle. While this is the only view of the castle in this sketchbook, Turner made several others in the Rokeby and Appleby sketchbook (perhaps on his outward journey) (see Tate D25590, D25591, D25593–D25596: Turner Bequest CCLXIV 34a, 35, 36–37a).

The present view (unlike sketches in the Rokeby and Appleby sketchbook, which are all from the road to the north) shows that Turner left the road to enter Brough village, and made this view of the castle and the Church of St Michael from the south. The village lies between the castle and church at the right, and in those days housing extended along the southern side of the castle motte. In the current sketch the castle appears to be of a very different shape from that portrayed in the Rokeby and Appleby sketches, as here we look towards the more intact parts of the curtain wall with the circular Clifford Tower at the centre, while the square keep at the left is less distinct.