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

Turner made three sketches of Brougham Castle on his return from Barnard Castle and Rokeby to Penrith. The castle stands just outside Penrith on the approach to the town near Eamont Bridge. Although Turner had not been instructed to sketch it in connection to his illustrations for Walter Scott, the castle did feature in Scott’s writing as the home of Ivanhoe. Turner sketched several sites that were connected to Scott’s works, but that were not considered for illustrations to the Poetical Works such as Branxholme Castle (folio 85 verso–86; D25914–D25915), suggesting that he had a good knowledge of the author’s work and that it was at the forefront of his mind during this tour of Scotland and the Borders.

The present sketch shows the castle from across the River Eamont to the north-east near Castle Bridge. The view concentrates on the keep which stands near the river bank and also shows the service buildings (partially obscured by trees to the left). There is a second view at the bottom left of the page which includes Castle Bridge in the foreground.

Further views of the castle appear on folios 37 verso and 38 (D25834, D25835).