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

Turner’s inscription under the sketch on the inside of the page (drawn parallel with the page gutter) tells us that he had reached the northern end of Loch Lochy when he made this sketch of what he refers to as ‘Laggan B[ridge]’, though is actually the lock gate that divides Loch Lochy and the Caledonian Canal.

David Wallace-Hadrill and Janet Carolan have suggested that the second sketch, drawn parallel to the fore-edge of the page with the sketchbook in the opposite orientation, may be of Gairlochy at the southern end of Loch Lochy.1 However, the shape of the mountains to the left and right make this almost certainly a view south down Loch Lochy from the entrance to the canal at Laggan. The hills at the right are recognisable as Meall nan Dearcag, with the peak of Meall Dubh to their left. A sailing boat is moored at the pier beyond the lock gates with the masts of further boats to the right, where there are also some canal buildings. The inscription beneath the sketch has not been deciphered. Turner may have made another sketch from the same location on folio 6 (D26972).