Lot Essay
This recently rediscovered vignette watercolour was commissioned by Robert Cadell as an illustration to Sir Walter Scott's Poetical Works, published 1833-4; it was engraved by Edward Webb, an assistant of John Pye (illustrated Piggott, op.cit., p.110, no.84).
Rokeby was particularly associated with Scott, who was a frequent visitor from 1808 onwards; he wrote his poem 'Rokeby' there in 1812. It deals with the aftermath of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. Turner had visited Rokeby on his tour of Richmondshire in 1816 and had already done a watercolour illustrating Scott's verses, but completely different in composition in 1822 for his patron Sir Walter Fawkes (Bedford, Cecil Higgins Museum; Wilton, op.cit., p.424, no.1053, illustrated, see also D. Hill and S. Warburton, Turner in Yorkshire, exhibition catalogue, York City Art Gallery, York, June-July 1980, pp.50-51, illustrated). Turner revisited Rokeby in 1831 specifically to collect material for his illustrations to Scott's Poetical Works.
Rokeby was particularly associated with Scott, who was a frequent visitor from 1808 onwards; he wrote his poem 'Rokeby' there in 1812. It deals with the aftermath of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. Turner had visited Rokeby on his tour of Richmondshire in 1816 and had already done a watercolour illustrating Scott's verses, but completely different in composition in 1822 for his patron Sir Walter Fawkes (Bedford, Cecil Higgins Museum; Wilton, op.cit., p.424, no.1053, illustrated, see also D. Hill and S. Warburton, Turner in Yorkshire, exhibition catalogue, York City Art Gallery, York, June-July 1980, pp.50-51, illustrated). Turner revisited Rokeby in 1831 specifically to collect material for his illustrations to Scott's Poetical Works.