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

As Ian Warrell has noted, the focus of the main drawing is All Saints Church, Bakewell, Derbyshire, at the time when it lacked a spire.1 The original had been taken down in 1825, as was the tower in 1830, their replacements being among major changes between 1841 and 1852.2 The building is seen from the south-west, with the bridge over the River Wye below the mound of the town’s motte and bailey castle on folio 31 recto opposite (D22206), where this view continues across half the page; the hills of the Peak District rise beyond in the direction of Chatsworth House (see under folio 43 verso; D22231). Later buildings and trees now obscure the foreground. There are other Bakewell views on folios 31 recto opposite, 31 verso, 32 recto and 33 recto (D22206–D22208, D22210), and one at nearby Ashford in the Water on folio 52 recto (D22245).

A.J. Finberg (died 1939) and the watercolour and Turner scholar C.F. Bell (died 1966) added ‘Bridgenorth [sic] inset’ in undated manuscript notes in copies of Finberg’s 1909 Inventory,3 referring to the sketches at the outer edge with the page turned vertically. The leaning ruins of Bridgnorth Castle are shown with the dome of St Mary Magdalene’s Church beyond to the north-east. The detail of a pediment to the left of the castle is presumably that on the north side of the church, drawn in more detail on folio 12 recto (D22171). For other views of Bridgnorth, see under folio 1 recto (D22151).

Technical notes:

There is a small irregular patch of brown dirt or pigment towards the centre left, which is also offset onto the opposite page (D22206).