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The Immeasurable Wilds: Travellers to the Far North of Scotland

A Selection of Paul Sandby's Engravings of Scottish Scenes

I have a collection of 56 engravings by Paul Sandby, bound within leather covers. Some of them are thought to be Scottish scenes - Sandby spent three or four years in Scotland in the early 1750s working for  General Roy who was compiling his 'Great Map'. With the help of Ann Gunn's Catalogue Raisonne, I have located those that might be Scottish, and will put them on this page. Some may be duplicated elsewhere, but most of these are new. They include some interesting images of Edinburgh.

My titles are based on those in Gunn's superb Catalogue.

"Capriccio Landscape with the Mackenzie Monument. Greyfriar's Churchyard, Edinburgh, with Arthur's Seat in the Distance." Dated 1750 at the bottom.

"A Round Tower outside a Town. One Copy inscribed with 'Edinburgh' in pencil. The church in the distance is topped with the crown and spire of St Giles' Cathedral."

"Old Woman with a Basket."

"Landscape with a Ruined Windmill. Distant church of St Giles. The windmill may be the one that was to the west of what is now George Square."

Six oval engravings, all Scottish scenes.

All c.1750.

"Landscape with a Scottish Tower House, Cattle, &c. "

"Woman in a Landscape with a Ruined Tower behind."

"Landscape with Woman and Fisherman."

"Tree in Landscape [Goats beneath?] with distant Castle."

"A Survey Party in the Highlands."

"Man on Horseback approaching a Tower House."

Capriccio with Edinburgh castle & Arthur's Seat. 1750. Crags, Arthur's Seat & Castle from south (Castle reversed)"

At the bottom: "Etched on the spot by P. Sandby, Sept.27 1750"

"The Hay Cart, beneath Calton Hill. Looking west (so view in reverse). Also shows Trinity College Church and the Castle. Watercolour in the British Museum (1904, 0819.68)." At bottom left, "Etched on the spot by P. Sandby, 1750."

"A Woman Washing Clothes at the Draw-Well at Broughton, c.1751. The drawing was done for George Fern (BM 1904, 0819.95), possibly a member of the Survey team."

"Etched from The Life On Board a Scotch Ship. The Cook, Captain & Mate."

Two images of the Draw-Well at Broughton, Edinburgh. Sandby engraved three images of the well, the third showing 'Distressed Highlanders after Culloden'. I do not have this third print.

"Scottish Beggars Resting by Broughton Well. 1750."

"In the Meadows, near Edinburgh." At the bottom: "Paul Sandby fecit 1751."

" Capriccio of Hamilton Collegiate Church with Edinburgh Castle in the Distance, c.1751. Near Hamilton Place, Lanarkshire, demolished in the 18th century. Watercolour at BM (1904, 0819.50). Reversed images. Buildings at the top of the Royal Mile as seen from the Grassmarket include the Chapel. It was copied by Thomas Cocking for Grose's Antiquities."

"Trees and Huts with a Distant View of a Town." Gunn suggests Perth.

"Leith, from Broughton. Image reversed." At the bottom left, "Etched on ye Spot by P. Sandby, Sept. 6th, 1750".

"Landscape with a Fortified Building and Travellers." P. Sandby imprint at the bottom  but no date. An interesting engraving that possibly depicts David Ritchie, a deformed cripple who worked as a brushmaker in Edinburgh. He was born in 1740. One copy of this print in Nottingham states "etched with a toasting fork" on the back.

"Haddington, East Lothian, c.1751. Bothwell Castle, semi-ruined St Mary's Church, and Nungate Bridge included. Reversed image? St Mary's was destroyed in 1547-49, and restored in 1970."

To finish, five various ruins, probably Scottish antiquities.

" Ruined Abbey, 1758." Gunn suggests this is Arbroath Abbey.

"Ruined Abbey with Travellers on the Road. 1758." Gunn believes this to be based on the Sacrist/Treasury of Arbroath Abbey.

"Ruins by a River with a Man in a Boat."

"Ruined Abbey with Cattle and a Man Chopping Wood." 1758. The British Museum has the watercolour (1904, 0819.73).

"Ruins with Two Women Washing Clothes in a River. 1758." A W.A. Sandby album suggests this is the Old Castle at York, or St Mary's Abbey. Gunn suggests Crossragnel Cluniac Abbey, Ayrshire (based on the transon in the window).