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

Continuing up the east coast of Britain in a boat bound for Edinburgh (see folio 1 verso for details; D17509), this page contains sketches covering the area between Flamborough Head and Robin Hood’s Bay. The sketchbook page was used turned to the right.

The top sketch, labelled ‘Scarborough’, shows the town from near the south bay area, and looks west according to Turner’s ‘w’ inscription. The area between the two cliffs is the old harbour, and the remains of the keep of Scarborough Castle are shown at the top of the cliff to the right.

The second and third sketch down (bearing in mind the inscriptions for the fourth and fifth sketches and the sequence of views) probably shows the coastline between Flamborough Head and Scarborough. According to the inscription, ‘NW’, the views are looking north-west. The fourth sketch, labelled ‘Flam’, shows the headland of Flamborough Head from the north.

Sketches five and six probably show ‘Flamborough’ Head looking north (‘N’) from the south (although the inscription could read ‘Musgrave’ and therefore show another part of the Yorkshire Coast as in folio 88; D17664). The lower of the two sketches is from closer to, so the cliffs are seen in greater detail and the lighthouse is now visible. Incidentally, when the Royal George passed Flamborough Head a few days later the cliff tops were apparently crowded with people waving to King George IV.1

The second-to-bottom sketch is labelled ‘Robin Hoods Bay’ and shows the North Yorkshire town nestled between hills. The town itself sits on the cliffs just above the bay, and is indicated in the sketch by a series of squares and may be inscribed ‘town’.

The final sketch probably shows the cliffs of ‘Ness Point’ also known as ‘North Creek’, just to the north of Robin Hood’s Bay. Turner sketched the cliffs again on his return journey from Edinburgh on folio 87 (D17662) of this sketchbook. See also folios 83 verso and 84 (D17655, D17656).

Technical notes:
The page is slightly yellowed owing to light exposure (as on the recto; D17512), and has been reattached to the sketchbook. It was removed by Ruskin to exhibit in the National Gallery Touring exhibition.