Turner, the missing church and a wall painting

I WAS interested to see your photo of JMW Turner’s painting of Kirkby Lonsdale churchyard and the view beyond which is to be auctioned in January next year (Yorkshire Post, November 30), and would like to make the following comments.

Firstly, Charles O’Brien, head of Bonhams 19th century paintings department, is quoted as saying that Turner “leaves out the church in order to focus on the trees”.

From where Turner must have been sitting at his easel, the church would have been directly behind him, so it’s not surprising he omitted it unless he had eyes in the back of his head.

Secondly, there is a long-standing dispute between the owner of a farm which is at the side of the river in the valley and the local council.

A few years ago, the owner applied for planning permission to convert some of the farm buildings into holiday accommodation.

This was declined by the council on the grounds that these conversions would spoil the view as painted by Turner. It would appear that the council had never seen the painting because the farm is totally obscured by the valley bottom mist depicted by the artist.

Finally, local legend tells that while in Kirkby Lonsdale to paint the picture, Turner stayed in a small hotel now renamed The Orange Tree.

When presented with his bill, Turner had no money. So in lieu of payment the landlord accepted his offer to paint one of the walls in the bar.

This wall painting was agreed by all who saw it to be of very inferior quality, and was unsigned. It was eventually painted over.