This informal sketch-like view of Rochester Cathedral with the castle beyond is one of twenty or so small watercolours bought by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) at the posthumous sale of his and Girtin’s patron Dr Thomas Monro (1759–1833) (Exhibitions: Christie’s, 26 June 1833, lots 81 and 82). They now form part of the Turner Bequest at Tate Britain, where the majority of them are attributed to Girtin. The watercolours, all painted on card measuring roughly 3 × 4 3/4 in (7.6 × 12.1 cm), were executed around 1795–96 after a set of outline drawings of antiquarian subjects that Girtin mainly copied from the sketches of his first significant patron, the amateur artist and antiquarian James Moore (1762–99). However, although Moore made a number of sketches of Rochester Castle (see TG0231), the source for this watercolour was almost certainly Girtin’s master, Edward Dayes (1763–1804), as it repeats a composition that the young artist made as an apprentice in his studio (TG0076), albeit cutting the scene to make a more compact version. Girtin produced three other Rochester views from Dayes’ compositions in the period of his apprenticeship (TG0015, TG0057 and TG0071), but it is still unlikely that this copy, or indeed the pencil drawing that it was probably based on, was copied at this stage. Certainly, Girtin did not travel to Rochester himself, and the likeliest scenario is that he came across this composition in the collection of Monro and made his copy at the patron’s house at the Adelphi in London. Monro is known to have owned a view of Rochester by Dayes, and there may have been more amongst the hundred or so ‘Coloured sketches of antiquities and buildings’ by Dayes that were sold posthumously from his collection in 1833 (Exhibitions: Christie’s, 1 July 1833, lots 36–40 and 44).

It is possible that Monro may have had a publication in mind when he commissioned Girtin to produce small-scale watercolours such as this, but their rapid, even careless execution and sketch-like appearance, suggesting that the work was made on the spot, indicate a very different kind of commodity. Indeed, the subjects that were chosen for this informal sketch-like treatment do not follow any obvious pattern, either by geography or building type, that might have made for a thematically unified publication. It may be that there is nothing that unites the group other than that Girtin’s outlines after the sketches of Moore and Dayes provided a ready resource from which sketch-like watercolours might be rapidly produced.

The paper is discoloured as a result of excessive exposure to light whilst on long-term exhibition. The differently toned areas (top, left and right) were protected by an earlier mount.

(?) 1795

Rochester Castle, from the South

TG0231

1792 - 1793

Rochester Cathedral and Castle, from the North East

TG0076

1791

Rochester, from the River Medway

TG0015

(?) 1791

Rochester Castle, from the River Medway

TG0057

1791 - 1792

Rochester, from the North

TG0071