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

Cut out for exhibition and later replaced in the sketchbook, but still darkened and discoloured from exposure, this is the left half of a double-page spread continued from folio 2 verso (D11374) opposite, recording a minutely observed panorama of York as seen from the west-south-west about two hundred metres to the north-west of Holgate windmill. Working across the middle distance of the whole panorama from left to right it is possible to make out; Marygate seen over the line of the river Ouse with St Olave’s church and Marygate Postern; York Minster with Lendal tower by the river below right; further right, just to the left of a plume of smoke, is the tower of St Martin Le Grand, Coney Street (with an enlarged detail of the same, in the sky above) with slightly more distant and to left, the tower of St Helen, Davygate; to the right of the plume can be seen the tower of St Croix, Pavement1 (with an enlarged detail of the same, in the sky above), then the spire of All Saints, North Street (also with an enlarged detail of the same, in the sky above) and the tower of All Saints, Pavement (with an enlarged detail of the same, in the sky above).

Below the buildings we can see the west wall of the city stretching away above open ground running right to Micklegate Bar. Rather inconveniently Micklegate Bar itself falls into the gutter between the two pages, so Turner has sketched an enlarged detail at the top of D11374 opposite. The view continues to the right to bring in Holgate windmill, and to take in something of the view south-east towards the Knavesmire. Two small postmills close together can be seen in that area beyond the right side of Holgate mill, and another windmill, possibly Lamel Hill windmill, the same as that drawn on folios 3 verso–4 recto (D11376–D11377) following, is noted on the higher ground in the distance to the left of Holgate mill.

See Tate D11374; Turner Bequest CXLVI 2a for notes on Holgate windmill.