View of Lincoln

Joseph Mallord William Turner’s *View of Lincoln* was created during his early career as a watercolourist specializing in architectural subjects, reflecting his training under figures like Thomas Malton and his awareness of Michael Angelo Rooker’s work. The piece likely stems from Turner’s practice of making detailed pencil sketches during extensive tours, which he later developed into watercolours in his studio rather than painting directly from nature. Turner’s long association with the Royal Academy began in 1789, and by 1791 he had started annual sketching trips outside London, producing thousands of pencil studies that informed his later compositions. The work is part of a broader output that included print series such as the *Liber studiorum* and topographical publications like *Picturesque Views of England and Wales*.