With the sketchbook predominantly inverted according to its foliation, across this and the facing page on folio 51 verso (
D17451) Turner records multiple views of Chatham on the River Medway in Kent. The latter portion of this identification was made by Finberg.
1The topmost prospect seems likely to describe Turner’s view as he turned his attention North, looking upriver, with Chatham Dockyard at right. A cluster of vessels at right, comprised both of large ships and smaller, light craft, seems to support the latter suggestion. At far right, closer to the gutter, buildings are briefly indicated, with a line of windows marked with dots. The left portion of this view, the riverbank opposite the dockyard, is comprised predominantly of undulating topography. The rooftops of buildings on this more distant shore are indicated, but architectural characteristics are largely unelaborated.
The view described across the centre of this sheet continues from beginnings on the facing page, and demonstrates the waterfront buildings of Chatham from a south westerly perspective. Large hulks are indicated at left. To the immediate left of centre, one of these is loosely hatched, perhaps in demonstration of form rather than shadow.
In a lighter hand, Turner makes a final drawing with the page oriented according to its regular foliation. The overall composition, with two distinct topographic mounds at left, and ships and buildings at right, emulates in less detail the sketch of the River Medway made along the opposite edge of the sheet.
There are a great number of drawings of Chatham in this sketchbook. For an indication of their significance, and a comprehensive list of the pages upon which they are inscribed, see the entry for folio 22 recto (
D17402).