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

The letters within the upper drawing indicate the relative positions around Carrick Roads of St Mawes (‘M’) (see folios 136 recto, 147 verso and 148 verso (D08620, D08641, D08643; CXXIII 133, 144a, 145a), Falmouth and Pendennis Castle, seen to the east from Antron Hill; the view can still be glimpsed here and there beyond later houses and trees. There are other views in and around Falmouth on folios 92 verso, 107 recto, 111 verso, 112 verso, 114 recto, 147 verso, 148 verso, 220 verso and 221 recto (D08538, D08566, D08574, D08576, D08579, D08641, D08643, D08760, D08761; CXXIII 89a, 104, 108a, 109a, 111, 144a, 145a, 217a, 218), and in the contemporary Ivy Bridge to Penzance sketchbook (Tate D08901, D08905, D08906, D08908; Turner Bequest CXXV 24a, 27, 27a, 29).

The lower drawing appears to show Bridport from the west, with the hills around Walditch and Hyde beyond; for Bridport see also folios 47 verso and 57 recto (D08452, D08471; CXXIII 47a, 55b).

The views were recorded on quite separate occasions; Bridport would have been drawn well before Falmouth, as Turner travelled west on this leg of his West Country tour.