Joseph Mallord William Turner

Ben Lomond is seen here from the north northwest, probably, as David Wallace-Hadrill has suggested, from the shore at Inveruglas.1 Box shapes in the foreground may represent the remains of a small landing stage or some other structure at the water’s edge, and looking south down the loch at the right of the sketch is a steamboat, noticeable from its trail of smoke. Turner was himself exploring the loch by steamboat (see Tour of Scotland for Scott’s Poetical Works 1831 Tour Introduction) so this sketch gives a good impression of his own journey.

Other views of Loch Lomond are scattered throughout this sketchbook, see folio 23 (D26480) for details.