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

At the top of the page is a slight sketch of an architectural detail. This is hard to make out, but shows a gate pier made of large ashlar blocks, with a small scroll volute to the right. The elements resemble those of the gate piers of the West Gates at Farnley Hall, the subject of a sketch in the Farnley sketchbook (Tate D12019–D12020; Turner Bequest CLIII 14a–15), and related watercolour of the West Lodges Farnley Hall (private collection).1

The inscription reads:

There is a distinct note of complaint in Turner’s memorandum, and perhaps he had been sent on something of a wasted journey. The note, however, does present something of a conundrum in that the reading of ‘Carlilly’ as Carlisle, is uncertain, as is the reading of the date. If July 24 is correct then there are questions as to the date of the incident in the context of the rest of the book, since 24 July was a Sunday in 1814, but not again until 1825 (hence Finberg’s MS note on the page).2 21 July was a Sunday in 1816 and that would fit better with the date of the tour, but on that date Turner was based at Browsholme Hall with the Parker family and his friends the Fawkeses (see the sketchbook’s Introduction).

At the top right is the usual endorsement by the Executors of the Turner Bequest, Henry Scott Trimmer, John Prescott Knight and Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, in ink ‘N^o 275 | 157 leaves with | pencil sketches | H.S Trimmer’ and at the top left in pencil ‘JPK’ and ‘C.L.E.’