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

There are three sketches of Dumbarton Rock on this page, all of which continue slightly onto folio 72 (D26578), where there is another sketch of the rock. The most detailed sketch is a view from Dumbarton to the north at the top of the page. With the castle buildings and ramparts halfway up the rock, and the church spire and other buildings of Dumbarton to the left, this sketch formed the basis of the watercolour Dumbarton Castle and River Leven circa 1833 (whereabouts unknown).1 A sketch in the Loch Long sketchbook (Tate D26621; Turner Bequest CCLXXI 2) and another in the Scotch Lakes sketchbook (Tate D02980; Turner Bequest LVI 35a) also contributed towards the design.

The middle sketch seems to be from the River Clyde to the south-west and includes the Kilpatrick Hills in the background. The Governor’s House is indicated at the right of the rock. With the sketchbook inverted is a sketch of the western profile of Dumbarton Rock. For further sketches of Dumbarton Rock in this sketchbook see folio 82 verso (D26598). Turner also made sketches of the rock in the Loch Long sketchbook (see inside front cover; Tate D41131).