Rochester Canvas, Evidence of Purchase

Purchase of the Rochester canvas is mentioned in this extract from 'Once A Week' Feb 1, 1862 col.2 second paragraph. The author of the letter is not identified but the columnist is Archer.

The 'daughter of the Reverend J Douglas' is most likely Margaret Martha born about 1782.

Of the date of purchase it can be said definitely before the painting of the 1792 'Self Portrait' oil on canvas. This visit to Rochester is likely to have taken place after Turner organised his 1792 RA exhibits. So the earliest date of purchase of the Rochester Canvas is around April 1792.

The quantity purchased is not noted but Margaret Martha said that 'she herself' purchased it. In 1792 Margaret Martha was ten or eleven. Turner was seventeen. The reality of the purchase situation is more likely that she accompanied Turner when the canvas was bought. As to the quantity, a yard would cut into four finished 15" x 20" pictures - a manageable size that Turner had been working with, on paper, recently in early 1792. This would provide for two 'Rochester' pictures, then on his return to London the 'Self Portrait' and the 1793 exhibit.