Thomas Allom original watercolour painting c1836, Glencoe, framed as a pair with the print

Condition: Painting in excellent condition, corners trimmed off, tipped onto card. Print in excellent condition.  Frames and mounts also in very good condition (neither picture examined out of the frame).

This is a really interesting and scarce original watercolour study by one of the great 19th century lillustrators.  Here it is accompanied by the print which was engraved from it by William Hill.  

The steel engraving was done in 1836 by Hill for a series "Scotland Illustrated", published by George Virtue between 1835 and 1838.  The engraving is a very close copy of the painting.  The scene shows the Macdonalds in flight from the Scottish Government forces at the famous 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, with the rugged mountains and pass in the background.  The engraving is titled The Eastern Pass of Glencoe (Argyleshire).

Allom's painting is in sepia wash with gouache highlights.  It is interesting to see the level of detail added by the engraver, not possible with the use of brush and wash, to capture the tones created by the painter.

Thomas Allom (13 March 1804 – 21 October 1872) was an English architect, artist, and topographical illustrator.  He travelled very widely in pursuit of his illustrative work, in which he was prolific, and it is this which forms the basis of his reputation today, more than his architectural work (info from Wikipedia).

This pair comes from the Derbyshire Education Committee Museum Service, as shown by labels on the reverse of each frame. Allom's small wash drawings do not come up for sale much and are mainly now in museums.  Some have sold within the last ten years at Christies and Bonhams.