J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

Turner has inscribed this sketch ‘Glen Goil’, telling us that it was made during his journey from Lochgoilhead to St Catherine’s on the shore of Loch Fyne. Turner made this journey by coach as part of an advertised package tour from Glasgow to Loch Long and Loch Goil by steamboat, and then onto Loch Fyne by coach.1 The present view may be of Stob an Eas as seen from the west of the glen near Loch Fyne, with the peaks of Bienn an t-Seilich and Beinn an Lochain behind, and the northern shore of Ben Donich to the right. Sketches on folios 1 verso and 15 (D26620, D26647) are inscribed ‘Glen Goil’ and show the view north up the glen from Lochgoilhead. There is also a similar view on folio 16 verso (D26650).

David Wallace-Hadrill and Janet Carolan have identified the sketch at the bottom of the page as Loch Long.2 This is presumably a view north up the Loch with the summit of Ben Arthur in the distance at the centre. Turner made another sketch looking north up the loch on folio 15 verso (D26648) and in the Stirling and the West sketchbook (Tate D26469; Turner Bequest CCLXX 17a); (see that entry for more information on Turner’s steamboat journeys on Loch Long). There is another sketch of the loch on folios 7 of the present sketchbook (D26631).