More Sketches from the same hand?
I purchased recently a further 22 sketches, all inscribed with locations, but none giving an indication of the artist. They are very similar in style and handwriting to those found in the 1849 sketchbook, though they date from a later period - mostly the 1860s. These are beautifully drawn, perhaps a little more developed with colour wash added, but there are many comparisons that suggest the same hand. I wonder if it might be William Leighton Leitch. The latest date in the collection is 1882, which would be one year before he died. It is of Slindon in Sussex - he spent his last years living in London. Another, dated 1869 seems to be titled "Tilley", perhaps the village in Shropshire, so there were clearly English connections. There are also two from Wales - Criccieth Castle, and Watermill near Dolgelly. But Leitch was often drawn to Scotland, not least with his connections to the Royal Family and Balmoral, and the rest in this collection are of Scottish views. There are plenty of examples of Leitch's pencil sketches online for comparison: I should be interested to hear from anyone with views on who this artist might be. Whoever it is, these are lovely 19th century drawings.
In the Trossachs, Duncraggon. July 7th 1864.
This, at 38cms x 27cms is a larger drawing, the only one dated 1864.
In 1866, the artist embarked on a tour that took him or her from Perthshire up to Aberdeenshire. There are 6 sketches that illustrate this, all a little smaller than the above, at 23cms x 14cms.
On the Garry. Pass of Killiecrankie. July 1866.
Pass of Killiecrankie, July 1866. Glen Tilt, July 1866.
Snow on Lochnagar. Scene on the Dee, Aberdeenshire. July 1866. Glen Clunie, Aberdeenshire. July 1866.
Glen Clunie in the Grampians. July 1866.
This last image shows Fraser's Bridge, which takes the Military Road over the Clunie Water. It is thought to have been built in c.1752.
There is also a set of 11 landscape views, dated June/July 1867. The artist started on the Clyde, and proceeded north as far as Oban and Loch Linnhe.
Gourock on the Clyde, June /67.
Dunoon on the Clyde, June /67.
Loch Long, June /67. [Bottom right] Mouth of the Clyde.
In the Kyles of Bute, June /67. [Top right] The Hills of Arran in the In the Kyles of Bute, June /67.
distance.
At Tarbert, Loch Fyne. June /67. From the Crinan Canal, June /67.
In the Sound of Karrera, looking towards Colonsay Island. June /67.
The Silent Loch. On the shore near Oban, July /67. On the shore at Oban, July /67.
The Mountains on Loch Linnhe, Western Highlands. July /67.
For the sake of completeness, I add the four sketches that are not Scottish.
Tilley, July 1869. At Slindon, Feb. 1882.
Criccieth Castle [Wales].
Water Mill nr. Dolgelly, August 22nd., /59.
This last, particularly fine image is on a larger sheet 38cms x 28cms.