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TURNER’S ILLUSTRATIONS TO
SIR WALTER SCOTT’S
POETICAL WORK
BEAUTIFUL SCOTLAND - PRINCELY TURNER
or
A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN
This inaugural exhibition is dedicated to the National Galleries of Scotland and the Scottish
team at this museum
When Turner journeyed to Scotland in 1831 to prepare for his illustrations to the Poems, Scott has been
already the toast of Scotland, and indeed the world for some twenty years. And Turner? He has already
earned the splendiferous reputation which impelled Scott's son-in-law to call him that prince of artists.
As the results, that is the engraved illustrations show, this indeed was destined to evolve into a
marriage made in heaven.
Perhaps there is no more appropriate document to put this relationship in a better context than a letter
by Robert Cadell, the canny publisher of the new projected edition of Scott's works. Cadell refers in that
letter to the rapturous response evoked by Scott's The Lady of the Lake, read by poet-loving Turner no
later than 1811, published in 1810:
The whole country rang with the praises of the poet - crowds set off to view the scenery of Loch Katrine,
till then comparatively unknown; and as the book came out just before the season of excursions, every
house and inn in the neighborhood was crammed with a constant succession of visitors...the author's
succeeding works keeping up the enthusiasm for our scenery which he had originally created.
Much praise has been heaped upon Turner's princely illustrations, their surpassing beauty, their
romantic passion and their uttermost harmony with the spirit of Scotland. In 1831 all that was in the
future. What sealed the marriage made in heaven was the down-to-earth prophetic assessment made
by marriage broker Cadell:
With Turner...I will insure the sale of 8,000 for the Poetry - without, not 3,000.
Turner's in-to-day's-dollars fee of some 10,000 per illustration turned out to be a canny investment.
CARLISLE
Frontispiece to volume 1 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Contemplation
Cosmic Moment
Scottish Rainbow
SMAILHOLM TOWER
Title vignette to vol 1 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Dog Barking at 3 Much Bigger Animals
Cosmic Moment
A Shout of Joy
JEDBURGH ABBEY
Frontispiece to vol 2 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Greetings
Cosmic Moment
Waterside Gossip
JOHNNIE ARMSTRONG’s TOWER
Vignette to vol 2 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Four-hin-hand Crossing Bridge
Cosmic Moment
Tower Shrouded in Mist
KELSO
Frontispiece to vol 3 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
One Working - Three Observing
Cosmic Moment
Mirror Image
LOCHMABEN CASTLE
Vignette to vol 3 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Windswept Mother and Babe
Cosmic Moment
Lightning Strikes
CAERLAVEROCK CASTLE
Frontispiece to vol 4 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Tending the Fishing Nets
Cosmic Moment
Tending the Flock
HERMITAGE CASTLE
Vignette to vol 4 of
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Cosmic Moment
Gathering Stormclouds
Cosmic Moment
Whispering Highland Rivulet
DRYBURGH ABBEY
Frontispiece to vol 5 of
Tristan
Cosmic Moment
The Tweed - Couple Viewing Majestic Sweep
Cosmic Moment
The Tweed - A Surpentine Loop
BEMERSIDE TOWER
Vignette to vol 5 of
Tristan
Cosmic Moment
Coach Resting after a Long Trip
Cosmic Moment
Proud Display
MELROSE
Frontispiece to vol 6 of
Lay of the Last Minstrel
Cosmic Moment
Historic Picnic - Scott, Turner and Cadell!!!
Cosmic Moment
Horse and Buggy
NEWARK CASTLE
Vignette to vol 6 of
Lay of the Last Minstrel
Cosmic Moment
Upstairs Castle
Cosmic Moment
Downstairs Cottages
EDINBURGH from BLACKFORD HILL
Frontispiece to vol 7 of
Marmion
Cosmic Moment
A Helping Hand
Cosmic Moment
Scotland's Premier Castle - about 1832
Vignette to vol 7 of
Marmion
Cosmic Moment
Anglers in the Tweed
Cosmic Moment
House Warming in the November Chill
ASHESTIEL
LOCH KATRINE
Cosmic Moment
Still Waters
Cosmic Moment
Reflections
Frontispiece to vol 8 of
Lady of the Lake
LOCH ACHRAY
Vignette to vol 8 of
Lady of the Lake
Cosmic Moment
Sun in the Mist
Cosmic Moment
Cattle Resting
JUNCTION of THE GRETA and the TEES
Cosmic Moment
Indian Moon
Cosmic Moment
Angler Standing in a Stream
Frontispiece to vol 9 of
Rokeby
BOWES TOWER
Vignette to vol 9 of
Rokeby
Cosmic Moment
Conversation
Cosmic Moment
Chimney Smoke
Frontispiece to vol 10 of
The Land of the Lakes
Cosmic Moment
Vortex of Clouds
Cosmic Moment
Tourists Admiring a Wonder of Nature
LOCH KORISKIN
Vignette vol 10 of
The Land of the Lakes
Cosmic Moment
Sun Vortex
Cosmic Moment
Rock Vortex
FINGAL’s CAVE, STAFFA
SKIDDAW
Frontispiece to vol 11 of
The Bride of Triermain
Cosmic Moment
A Frieze of Cattle
Cosmic Moment
Traveler Resting on a Stone-bridge
MAYBURGH
Vignette vol 11 of
The Bride of Triermain
Cosmic Moment
The Sun Struggling with Frost-fog Gray
Cosmic Moment
Sheep Resting on Glen
BERWICK “UPON-TWEED”
Frontispiece to vol 12 of
Dramatic Pieces
Cosmic Moment
A Soldier Courting
Cosmic Moment
Casting a Wide Net
ABBOTSFORD
Vignette to vol 12 of
Dramatic Pieces
Cosmic Moment
The Poet's Stately Home
Cosmic Moment
Rivercrossing with a Coach
