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

With the page turned vertically, Turner has recorded a succession of wooded Thames Valley scenes. Above the top drawing is a note which appears to read ‘Hambleden Lock’, referring to the lock and complex of weirs on the river south of the Buckinghamshire village of the same name about a mile or so downstream of Henley-on-Thames (see folio 11 recto; D11788). The first drawing may show the lock and weirs, looking south-east; the others appear to lack significant landmarks. Two boats are shown moored in the middle view, with figures beneath the trees on the right. For other Thames views, see under folio 2 recto (D17775).

With reference to Finberg’s tentative ‘Hambledon’ reading of Turner’s inscription,1 John Gage noted that in 1793 Turner had won a Society of Arts prize of the Greater Silver Palette for an untraced drawing of ‘Lodge Farm, near Hambledon, Surrey’, mentioning other Surrey scenes of the 1790s, but the connection appears spurious, as Hambledon is a quite separate location.2

Technical notes:

John Ruskin’s customary red ink page number beside the later stamp is not readily apparent here, although those on other leaves of this sketchbook are generally very faint.

Verso:

Blank