Description
According to W A J Prevost in Trans. Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Soc. Vol. LIV, 1979:
As 'Lord Hopetoun's lead mine' it is assumed that it was situated in the part of Leadhills which was worked by the Hopetoun family, i.e. east of the Glengonnar Burn, and not anywhere else at Leadhills which was leased to others.
Consequently the scene would likely be dominated by Broad Law. The steep burn supplying the water could possibly be the Wool Gill. In the distance to the right in the picture is the supposed smelt mill which at that date was situated at the foot of the village near the present sewage treatment plant. However, the waterwheel and mine shaft just doesn't fit in with the landscape here. The perspective is wrong and it is therefore likely that Sandby added the landscape background from memory later on. However, there is no reason to suggest that the picture was not of Leadhills
Credit: Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund
Inscription
Inscribed in graphite, upper centre: "237"; in pen and black ink, upper right: "36"; in artist's hand in pen and brown ink, bottom left: "Lord Hopetoun's lead mines--".
Descriptive Medium
Watercolour, pen and black ink and graphite
Image Licence
Public Domain, Yale Center for British Art
Image Credit
image credit Yale Center for British Art
Location
Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Country
Scotland
Tags
Category
Industries & Professions
