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

This is one of a number of loose-leaf sketches that have been identified by David Wallace-Hadrill and Janet Carolan as depicting Black Rock Gorge or Glen Glass near Evanton in Ross-shire (for references see Tate D34791; Turner Bequest CCCLXIV d 324).1 Turner visited the gorge and glen while staying with Hugh Munro at his Novar estate nearby.

This sketch, which depicts a view along a winding stream bordered by hills, is similar to another, which also includes what look like large boulders at the left of the stream (Tate D34792; Turner Bequest CCCXLIV d 325). Both are likely to be views east along the glen towards the gorge. In both sketches there is a structure on top of the hill to the right of the sketch. In the present sketch it looks like a house with a gabled roof and a chimney, though it may be the Fyrish Monument on Cnoc Fyrish to the north.