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

There are four bands of sketches here, reading down the page. All continue across folio 11 recto opposite (D32562; CCCXXII 12) or relate to similar subjects there. The two landscapes in the top half show rugged hills beyond level foregrounds, and likely show prospects from the River Rhine; the first of a short identified sequence around Rüdesheim and Bingen, west of Mainz, is on the verso of the other page (D32563). The other half of the first view includes what seems to be a castle on the lower slopes; it is unclear whether the marks at the centre of this half constitute pictorial elements or a scrawled word, of which there appear to be two labelling the second view, one perhaps beginning with ‘M’.

The third and fourth studies are comparatively detailed, and show buildings on a skyline, including towers and spires. The lowest is inverted relative to the other drawings; it appears to be continuous with a section showing a tower or possibly a sail opposite. The other is labelled something like ‘Buderick Rhine’, and though only the first three letters of the first word are absolutely clear, Finberg confidently transcribed it as ‘Büderich’ without further comment,1 although this interpretation is likely correct. The same or similar buildings are shown in what is perhaps a reprise from a different viewpoint directly opposite.

Of three possibilities in present-day Nordrhein-Westfalen, two are along the Rhine. The first Turner would have passed is part of Meerbusch, on the west bank not far north-west of Düsseldorf (see folios 25 verso–26 recto; D32591–D32592; CCCXXII 26a, 27) and the second, on the same bank, is south-west of the centre of Wesel (see folio 49 verso; D32637; CCCXXII 50a), roughly thirty miles downstream to the north as the crow flies. Later changes make it unclear whether the buildings survive or were recorded in either vicinity. See folio 37 verso (D32613; CCCXXII 38a) for another likely subject along this stretch.

As set out in its Introduction, this sketchbook covers Turner’s homeward route from Augsburg north-westwards to Rotterdam (see under folios 1 verso and 14 recto respectively; D32543, D32568; CCCXXII 2a, 15). Travelling back down the familiar river, he worked in somewhat randomly from both ends, interspersing identifiable subjects with less distinctive renderings of towns, castles and the landscape.