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

Finberg called this drawing ‘Waves Breaking on Shore’, but more correctly the wave is breaking against the stone wall (right) of the jetty of Scarborough Harbour. This is the first of two detailed studies of breaking waves in this sketchbook, which are reminiscent of those made on the north-east coast in 1801, when Turner was travelling to Scotland (for example Tate D02809; Turner Bequest LIV 116). It is remarkable that he never seems to have tired of making fresh observations. Under his note to D11924; Turner Bequest CL 8, Finberg associated the present sketch and D11950; Turner Bequest CL 31 with a finished watercolour of Scarborough dated 1818 (private collection).1 The connection is no doubt correct, but it is worth noting that neither study has any specific relationship to the finished watercolour. It seems that in making such studies, Turner acquired knowledge sufficient to enable him to synthesise his depictions in the studio.

Verso:

Blank, except for inscription by ?John Ruskin in red ink ‘168.I’ bottom left. On this numbering see notes to folio 3 (D11945; Turner Bequest CL 26). Also inscribed by an unknown hand in red ink ‘136’ in a cartouche bottom-right corner, and in blue pencil ‘227’ towards bottom right.