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23j - Isle of Staffa

Courtesy of National Library of Scotland | CC BY 4.0

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Date

1781-1820

Artist

Collection

National Library of Scotland

Image Link

https://digital.nls.uk/74635638

Description

This engraving, one of a pair in the Hutton Collection relating to the Hebridean island of Staffa, shows the approach to Fingal's Cave. While the other engraving records the strange volcanic patterns of the island's hexagonal rock formations in close-up, this engraving shows the front of Fingal's Cave, and the vertical basalt columns that dominate Staffa's profile. At the foot of the pillars are the hexagonal stones that form a path of natural, honeycomb-like stepping-stones into the cave's entrance. There is no date for this engraving and the artist is unknown. Fingals' Cave uncanny resemblance to a large cathedral would have appealed to Hutton, as he gathered artwork and writings relating to the history of Scotland's ecclesiastical buildings. Hutton was not the only early nineteenth century artist who was greatly inspired by the amazing rock formations on Staffa. In addition to the composer, Felix Mendelssohn, and the painter, William Turner, Sir Walter Scott also visited the island and used Fingal's Cave as an inspirational muse, as did the Romantic poets, Keats and Wordsworth. Fingal is a famous character from Celtic mythology.
Collective title: Hutton Drawings > [Volume 1] > Argyllshire
More details about the album and its contents can be found on the collection website.

Image Licence

CC BY 4.0

Image Credit

Courtesy of National Library of Scotland

Location

Fingal's Cave, Staffa, Scotland

Country

Tags

Seascapes
Boats
Islands

Category

Landscapes & Seascapes

Glossary
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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform