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

The view of Edinburgh on this page, made with the sketchbook turned to the right was already familiar to Turner, having sketched almost exactly the same scene a few years previously (Tate D13690; Turner Bequest CLXVII 59). Finberg identified that view as ‘Edinburgh from near Dean’s Cemetery’, meaning that the bridge at the right which crosses the Water of Leith was probably the Belford Road Bridge. This might be what is written at the top of the page. The view looks along the water with cottages of Dean Village on the right and the Georgian houses of Edinburgh New Town beyond. Edinburgh Castle rises above the city and the spire of St Andrew’s Church is to the left.

Above the sketch are a small thumbnail of the same view and a slight sketch of a woman working with a cart or stall. The inscription at the top of the page refers to the bridge, but the rest of the note, which may refer to the activity of the woman, is indecipherable.

There are similar views of Edinburgh from the Water of Leith and Village of Dean on the inside front cover of this sketchbook and on folios 37 verso–38, 76 verso and 77 verso (D40687, D17567–D17568, D17641 and D17643).