Completed British 19th C, except portraits, Scotland: Artists and Subjects 9 comments Does anyone recognise the mountains in the background of 'Signs of Herring'?
Photo credit: Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library
This atmospheric painting is on display in our summer exhibition, 'Making Waves: Art Inspired by the Sea'.
http://www.harrismuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/643-making-waves-art-inspired-by-the-sea
We know Hunter painted on the west coast of Scotland but it would be great if we could identify the location. Does anyone recognise the mountains in the background?
Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Entry reviewed by Art UK
Completed, Outcome
This discussion is now closed. The painting is thought to depict herring fishing off the Isle of Skye. A description has been added to the painting record, noting this.
Thank you to all for participating in this discussion. To those viewing this discussion for the first time, please see below for all comments that led to this conclusion.
8 comments
The most likely location perhaps is the Isle of Skye
Hunter painted the Clyde as a subject a lot. The location could be worked out using OS 3D electronic Maps. I would start to look around inlets in the areas of Kyles of Bute, Dunoon or the Gareloch near Helensburgh (where he lived a while). The hill / mountain tops are viewed in an easterly direction deduced as this is a morning mist with a cool dawn, facing east. The hills tops are typical Argyll on inlets off the Clyde estuary possibly.
Compare with Hunter's 'Summer Fishing, Skye'. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/summer-fishing-skye-94866.
Too craggy I think for Firth of Clyde.
Might this be a view of part of the Cobbler range seen from Loch Long. Loch Long was once a significant herring fishery until the ground was prohibited in 1949.
Many thanks for all your comments. The painting was very popular in our summer exhibition.
I am going to stick to my belief that this is most likely to be the Isle of Skye, given the comparison with the artist's other work and photos such as http://mountainmagic.org.uk/places/skye/ and http://www.performanceseakayak.co.uk/Pages/Records/Circ/RecordsCircSkye.html
Even if we allow for some artist's licence, The Cobbler at Loch Long is just not so craggy low down - but John is welcome to find counter examples!
For another Colin Hunter , this time with a definite Isle of Skye title, see his 1895 'Good-night to Skye' in Glasgow Museums Research Centre
The collection has accepted Andrew's recommendation and we will now close this discussion.