Castle Urquhart

D.Y. Cameron was a successful painter and a very influential etcher. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art before joining life classes at the Royal Scottish Academy. His work was acclaimed in Edinburgh, London, Berlin and Munich. During the First World War, Cameron was appointed official war artist to the Canadian government and in 1933 was made the King's Painter in Scotland. Cameron was highly sought after by collectors until the Great Crash of 1929 brought a collapse in prices for prints in general. Despite his excellence as a printmaker, his work still remains underrated both in art historical and market terms.

Strong tonal contrasts characterise his prints and his stark and dramatic paintings, which are mainly landscapes and cityscapes. His prints often feature areas of great darkness, offset by highlights. Cameron’s etchings are notable for their use of drypoint, a skill that he had mastered over his years of production. This is particularly evident in his studies of church interiors and Scottish landscapes, as here.

Castle Urquhart is situated on the banks of Loch Ness. Throughout its long history, the castle has been an important strategic stronghold for anyone wishing to control the area. The history of the castle is steeped in conflict, but this accounts for only part of the now ruined state. It was deliberately blown up in 1692 to prevent it falling into Jacobite hands. The castle’s turbulent past and the surrounding romantic landscape combine to make this one of the most popular beauty spots in Scotland. Cameron’s drypoint shows the austere ruins set in the now peaceful valley, with its majestic tower reflected in the still, unbroken waters of Loch Ness.

Sources:

Arthur M. Hind, The Etchings of D.Y. Cameron (London; Halton and Truscott Smith, 1924)

National Galleries Scotland, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/artists/sir-david-young-cameron

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Young_Cameron

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art   December 2017