Observations, Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1776, on Several Parts of Great Britain 2 Volume Set
Particularly the High-Lands of Scotland

This 1789 work explores the concept of the picturesque through a journey around the lochs, castles and rivers of Scotland.

William Gilpin (Author)

9781108070119, Cambridge University Press

Multiple-component retail product, published 2 January 2014

528 pages, 35 b/w illus. 5 colour illus.
22.1 x 14.2 x 3.6 cm, 0.68 kg

Clergyman, schoolmaster and writer on aesthetics, William Gilpin (1724–1804) is best known for his works on the picturesque. In his Essay on Prints, published in 1768 and reissued in this series, he defined picturesque as 'a term expressive of that peculiar kind of beauty, which is agreeable in a picture'. First published in 1789, this two-volume work forms part of a series which records his reflections on the picturesque across British landscapes. It traces the journey he made in 1776, equipped with notebook and sketching materials, exploring the landscape of the Scottish Highlands via northern England, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Reproductions of his pen-and-wash drawings are included. The companion volumes of Gilpin's Observations on other parts of Britain are also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection. Volume 1 takes in such notable sites as the Grampian Mountains and Glencoe, while Volume 2 includes discussion of Loch Lomond and Dumbarton Rock.

Volume 1: Dedication
1. Country about Enfield-chace
2. Gunnerby-hill
3. Roche-abbey
4. Kirkstall-abbey
5. Strength of Liddel
6. Banks of the Tiviot
7. First view of Edinburgh
8. Castle of Garvy
9. Castle of Stirling
10. Loch-leven
11. Strathern
12. Approach to Perth
13. River Bran
14. River Tay
15. River Freer
16. Taymouth-house
17. Loch-tay
18. Inverary-castle
19. Account of the contention between two Scotch chiefs
20. Present character of the highlander. Volume 2: 21. Loch-Fyne
22. Loch-Lomond
23. View of the several islands of Loch-Lomond
24. A reverie
25. Dunbarton-rock and castle
26. Dunglas-castle
27. Account of the admirable Crichton
28. Queensberry-house
29. Grounds around Queensberry-house
30. Linclouden college
31. General remarks on Scotch landscape
32. Poverty of Scotch landscape from want of objects
33. General remarks on the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Scotland
34. The cattle, and inhabitants of the highlands
35. Improvements of taste in Scotland
36. Cockbridge
37. Tour round the lake of Keswick
38. View from Lancaster-castle in a storm
39. Country through Lancashire.

Subject Areas: The arts: general issues [AB]