Anon. Caledonian Canal, Scotland: Loch Ness

Tour of the Caledonian Canal: Ink & Wash Landscapes 1838

This drawing is one of a small collection by the same hand that we have for sale. The Caledonian Canal, connecting the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach, opened in 1822. The venture was not a commercial success, but the dramatic scenery through which it passes led to it becoming a tourist attraction, with Queen Victoria visiting in 1873.

These drawings date from the early years of the canal and document the surrounding landscape at Inverness, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, and west to the Isle of Skye. The rugged mountainous terrain is peppered with picturesque waterfalls, castle ruins and dramatic rock formations. An interesting inscription on one of the drawings refers to 'a spot near Mrs Macdonell's'. Mrs Macdonell owned the Knoydart Estate on the Knoydart Peninsula and was involved in the Highland Clearances, which saw numerous local crofters evicted and forced by necessity to emigrate to Canada.