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

The three drawings here were made with the page turned vertically. The upper two were made on the wooded shore in the vicinity of Cowes Castle (see under folio 72 verso; D20708; Turner Bequest CCXXVI 69a), with East Cowes Castle (see under folio 1 verso; D20597) on the skyline south-east across the mouth of the River Medina in the upper one, and probably again in the second. These rapid sketches, separated by horizontal pencil lines, catch groups embarking or disembarking from rowing boats.

The bottom sketch is rather more delicate, and shows yachts passing moored boats. For more on studies in this sketchbook relating to the regatta events at Cowes from late July 1827 onwards, see the Introduction.