These four sketches of Dunollie Castle and a view of Loch Linnhe were, according to David Wallace-Hadrill and Janet Carolan, probably made during Turner’s return journey to Oban after visiting Mull, Staffa and Skye.
1 The views are all from near the island of Kerrera, and were made on the approach to Oban Bay.
Turner seems to have started sketching at the bottom of the page, with a view due north up the Firth of Lorn to Loch Linnhe from near Dunollie Castle. At the left, and continuing on folio 56 verso (
D26851), are the mountains of Morvern and on the right are the mountains of Appin.
The first Dunollie sketch, the fourth down on the page, was made from north-west of Dunollie Castle and shows the castle on a headland at the left and Oban Bay to the right. We are closer to the castle in the second Dunollie sketch, which is the third from the top. To the right of the castle is the hill Barra Mòr with a few buildings to its right. The castle is seen from the south in the second sketch down, and from close to, Turner’s boat having just passed it. In the final sketch at the top of the page the castle is seen from the south-west.
Turner made another sketch of the castle on his journey to Oban on folio 56 verso, and sketched further views as he approached Oban Harbour on folio 96 verso (
D26931; CCLXXIII 96a). For further sketches of the castle see folio 95 (
D26928; CCLXXIII 95).
Thomas Ardill
February 2010
