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

The subject of this loose, pinkish brown and ochre watercolour sketch is difficult to determine. In his 1909 Inventory, Finberg ventured that the page depicted a banqueting scene, presumably with folios 19–22 verso of the sketchbook in mind (D35478, D35480, D35482, D35484; Turner Bequest 20–3) although it is hard to say on what grounds.1 The inside covers of other ‘roll sketchbooks’ from around this date frequently feature extremely liquid coastal views so the present sketch may be a less resolved example of such a piece; see for example, inside covers from the Ideas of Folkestone sketchbook (Tate D35361; Turner Bequest CCCLVI 1) and the Boulogne sketchbook (Tate D35435; Turner Bequest, CCCLVIII 24).