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

The most prominent drawing, inverted relative to the sketchbook’s foliation, is labelled ‘London Dock’, and shows shipping moored off lightly indicated buildings, presumably on the River Thames in the Pool of London below Old London Bridge (see folio 12 recto opposite; D20751). For other sketches in the vicinity, see under folio 10 verso (D20748).

The other way up is a view of a wooded shore with buildings beyond, this time labelled ‘Ryde’, presumably showing the town to the west; for further views around Ryde and other Isle of Wight views, see under folio 2 recto (D20735). A smaller sketch framed by pencil lines shows a similar view with a beached sailing boat, presumably noted on the same occasion. The island views are more detailed and refined than the quick shipping sketch, and appear to have been fitted into the space left it, suggesting that the London drawings were made some time earlier.