Still More Scottish Sketches
I am adding more Scottish 19th Century sketches to this page, starting with some by Surgeon-General Alexander Hunter. Born in Edinburgh, Hunter spent much of his life in India, but studied art when in Scotland's capital city, and also the new art of photography. These sketches all probably date from around 1875.
As always, please click on the image to see it in full if it appears cropped, and I suggest continuing to view them manually.
.JPG?etag=%22fec97-6423fd4e%22&sourceContentType=image%2Fjpeg&ignoreAspectRatio&resize=2500,918&quality=85 "Hunter Tulaichean Water Loch Katrine (1)")
A sketch by Alexander Hunter c.1870. Surgeon Major Alexander Hunter spent much of his life out in India. When in Edinburgh he was a pupil at the Royal Academy, and he was also a pioneer of photography.
.JPG?etag=%221b135b-6423ff80%22&sourceContentType=image%2Fjpeg&ignoreAspectRatio&resize=2500,1679&quality=85 "Inscription on Tulaicheon Sketch")
The inscription suggests Hunter was on an expedition with his(?) son-in-law, and that the sketch was for Mr George Thetwynd.
Hunter's style is an interesting mixture of accomplished and rather naive drawing. When in Edinburgh he studied at the Royal Academy.
By Alexander Hunter. The castle's position above Loch Oich was an important one, the home of Clan MacDonell of Glengarry. It was reduced to a ruin by the Hanoverian Army after Culloden.
Unnamed view on the back of the Invergarry Castle sketch.
St Ninians and Balmackaw(?) has been added, and later 'Castle Urquhart' by Hunter.
A brief sketch by Hunter on the back of the Drumnadrochit sketch.
A sketch by Hunter, presumably in the vicinity of Corpach rather than Inverness?
On the back of Hunter's 'Commencement...'image.
A sketch that Hunter has dated 1877.
Another brief sketch titled Inverness, on the back of his Nairn image.
By Alexander Hunter.
On the back of Hunter's Inverness 1877 drawing, this one also dated: 30 Aug. 1877.
One of two sketches by an anonymous hand, but from an album dated 1838.
A second sketch of the Caledonian Canal, 1838. Artist unknown.
A fine anonymous sketch of the folly that sits above the Black Linn Falls, Dunkeld.
A beautifully constructed sketch signed T. Bishopp bottom right, and dated Jan. 1830.
A typical drawing by an amateur hand, place unknown, though the rocky peak in the distance resembles the Cobbler.
One of 5 drawings by the man who has been called the Father of British Forensic Medicine, Alfred Swaine Taylor. They all date from 1833 when he made a tour of part of Scotland.
Swaine-Taylor was clearly an accomplished artist. His other interests included geology, and the nes art-science of 'photogenic drawing' being pioneered by Henry Fox Talbot.
Another by Swaine Taylor. Sub-titled "View of Ben Lawers & the Dochart. Mr Nab's Cemetery." 1833.
It appears that Swaine did not venture into the far north on this tour. !833
This, the last of Swaine's sketches is if the castle just outside Edinburgh.
One of three sketches by Fanny Catherine Tottie (nee Garforth). All 3 are dated 1847, and signed F.C.G. She travelled extensively, and was based in Yorkshire.
Another by Fanny Tottie, this one dated precisely Oct. 1, 1847.
Again, Fanny Tottie has dated this 1st October, 1847.
One of several sketches by an unknown artist, this drawn on paper bearing the watermark "Smith & Co. Turkey Mill, 1827."
Artist unknown. Gairlochy is near Fort Wil;liam.
Another in the set on 1827 paper, artist unknown.
This view, by the anonymous artist, is titled Invermay. It is the same view as in the next sketch which lacks a title.
This is the same view, Invermay, as in the preceeding sketch.
An interesting view of the old medieval bridge remains that survived until the 1970s when it was pulled down, deemed to be unsafe. By the anonymous artist on 1827 paper.