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

ISBN 978-1-84976-386-8
J.M.W. Turner > 1830-35 Annual tourist > Scotland 1831 > Inverness Sketchbook > Artwork

Joseph Mallord William Turner A Harbour with Shipping 1831

Image 1 of 2
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘A Harbour with Shipping’ 1831
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Folio 74 Recto:
A Harbour with Shipping 1831
D27139
Turner Bequest CCLXXVII 74
Pencil on off-white wove paper, 104 x 163 mm
Inscribed in pencil by Turner ‘E’ top centre, ‘W’ left centre
Inscribed in red ink by John Ruskin ‘74’ top right running vertically
Stamped in black ‘CCLXXVII 74’ top right running vertically
 
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
The two rapidly executed sketches on this page, probably made on the move from the deck of a boat, are inscribed ‘E’ and ‘W’, presumably indicating that these are views to the east and west. The scene depicted is a harbour with the masts of boats and buildings in the background. This sketch, along with several other rapidly executed sketches in this book (see folio 55 verso; D27118 for details) was probably made during Turner’s sea voyage from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, so either of these cities could be depicted. Another possibility is Stonehaven, as the jagged shape at the left of the top sketch may represent the rocky cliffs to the south of the harbour, as seen on folio 61 verso (D27125).
The lines running down the page are the continuation of a sketch on folio 73 verso (D27138).
Verso:

Thomas Ardill
May 2010

How to cite

Thomas Ardill, ‘A Harbour with Shipping 1831 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, May 2010, 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-a-harbour-with-shipping-r1135505, accessed 26 April 2024.