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

With the page turned horizontally, the view is west from the beach outside Folkestone harbour, as tentatively suggested by Finberg.1 The eastern pier runs left in the main view, with a continuation above showing the narrow harbour entrance; St Mary and St Eanswythe’s Church stands on the cliff in the distance. The harbour was later considerably expanded and redeveloped, and the sandstone cliffs in the foreground are now shored up by an arcaded concrete promenade.

Along with that on the verso (D18862), the prospect is comparable with an undated watercolour of Fishing Boats on Folkestone Beach, Kent (National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin),2 perhaps based more directly on folio 10 verso opposite (D18860), under which the watercolour and its possible context are discussed. The composition features a strong contre-jour effect towards sunset, perhaps informed by the shading of the pier and cliffs in the present sketch. See also Tate D17760–D17761 (Turner Bequest CCIII C, D), respectively a watercolour study and pencil outline from similar angles.

This is among numerous sketches showing aspects of the harbour. For Turner’s other Folkestone views in this sketchbook and elsewhere, see under the view in the same direction from within the harbour on folio 8 recto (D18855).