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

As discussed under Tate D17771 (Turner Bequest CCIII N) and recognised by Finberg in his sequencing,1 Tate D17768–D17772 (Turner Bequest CCIII K, L, M, N, O) form a group of similar wooded river valley subjects in pencil and wash. D17771 is the only one firmly identified as a view on the River Washburn, between Folly Hall and Dob Park Lodge, but Ian Warrell has plausibly suggested that they all probably represent the river,2 not far from Walter Fawkes’s home at Farnley Hall (see David Hill’s introduction to this section).

For more on the subject, dating and technique of the five related drawings, see under D17771.

Technical notes:

The centre of the composition has been severely affected by light exposure during prolonged display as part of the Second Loan Collection selected from the Turner Bequest, when the edges were protected by a mount.

Finberg described the five drawings listed above as ‘a series all drawn in wash and on paper of same size and quality, with gilt edges on three sides’; all five retain the gilt edges except along the bottom, suggesting they may be half sheets, or blank pages extracted from a bound volume. Three also bear the ‘C Wilmot | 1822’ watermark he mentions.1 Paper conservator Peter Bower notes that Charles Wilmott operated at Shoreham Mill in Kent, and the spelling in his known watermarks varies between ‘Wilmot’, ‘Wilmott’ and ‘Willmott’.2

Verso:

Blank; inscribed in pencil ‘CCVIII.O’ bottom centre.