Ferry-boat in the Highlands, with a Hunting Party c. 19th century

Curator: James Tibbits Willmore's "Ferry-boat in the Highlands, with a Hunting Party" presents a scene teeming with figures crossing water. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The overwhelming sense of journey, perhaps? It's all movement and texture, a visual study in contrasts between the rugged landscape and the crowded boat. Curator: Indeed. Highland imagery became a cultural touchstone; this work participates in that romanticization of the landscape, but also includes those who inhabit it. Editor: Yes, it's as much about the people as the place, isn’t it? The composition implies the land shapes the figures while they attempt to master it. Curator: Precisely. And note how the tonal gradations create a spatial depth that implies the vastness of this Highland world. Editor: It is interesting how Willmore uses that light to make a statement on the power and grandeur of the Scottish landscape and its people. Curator: A fascinating juxtaposition, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely; a cultural snapshot rendered with astute technical skill.