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

One of six Kirkstall subjects from this sketchbook, this sketch records a view on the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, looking east towards Armley Road Bridge. The River Aire can be seen below to the left, with Kirkstall Bridge amongst the trees in the middle distance left. Kirkstall Abbey itself is just over half a mile behind and to the left. The steps in the foreground lead to a spring in Monk Wood, which was subsequently tapped for the Leeds Brewery built on the site. Turner returned to this spot in 1823 to make a sketch of the canal looking in the opposite direction towards Kirkstall Abbey in the Brighton to Arundel sketchbook (Tate D18416; Turner Bequest CCX 62) which provided the basis of a finished watercolour, Kirkstall Lock on the River Aire (Tate D18145; Turner Bequest CCVIII L), engraved for The Rivers of England.

For Kirkstall Abbey in this sketchbook see D12254; Turner Bequest CLV 13.

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The fact that there is no ‘Sched 164..’ inscription (nor any red numeral on the recto) as on other leaves from this sketchbook suggests that this one was among those noted as being ‘cut out’ when the original (‘Sched’) inscriptions were made (see notes to D12241, 12244; Turner Bequest CLV 2, 4a).