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

This is one of several sketches that Turner made of the view up the Sound of Kerrera towards Dunollie Castle from south of Oban (see folios 59 verso–60 verso and 78 verso; D26857–D26859, D26895). The present view is from just south of the Gallanach Cliffs which are shown at the right, and faces north along the Sound with Kerrera on the right and Dunollie Castle on a headland at the centre of the picture. Turner must have stood on the headland just to the west of Gallanach House to be able to see past the cliffs to Dunollie. The craggy shape of the headland is represented by Turner’s jagged pencil lines and there may be a rowing boat moored up in the foreground. There is a more carefully executed sketch from nearby on folio 78 verso.

At the top of the page is a sketch of a view along a road, looking over the rooftops of several buildings towards distant hills. This is likely to be the view south towards Cardig Mill, as seen on folio 79 (D26896) from the same point.