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

The horizon line between the two yachts appears to form a continuous composition with them, showing the church spires of Southampton in the distance to the north-west up Southampton Water. The coastal profile above may show Calshot Castle (see under folio 60 verso; D18106). At the top and bottom are slight studies of the ruins of Netley Abbey, seen from the south on the eastern bank about three miles downstream of Southampton; the site is now in the care of English Heritage.1 Turner made detailed studies there in the 1795 Isle of Wight sketchbook (Tate D00429, D00430; Turner Bequest XXIV 22, 23) and in the later Guernsey sketchbook (see Tate D23577–D23589; Turner Bequest CCLII 30a–36a); see also folio 63 recto opposite (D18111).

This is one of a sequence of views in the Southampton area; see under folio 58 verso (D18102).