Inverary Castle and Town, Scotland (Liber Studiorum, part XIII) 1816

J.M.W. Turner created this etching of Inverary Castle and Town in Scotland as part of his “Liber Studiorum” series. It was intended to display his mastery and range in landscape art. At the time, Scotland was undergoing significant social and economic change. Turner illustrates this through the depiction of both the traditional life of Scottish fishermen and the imposing Inverary Castle, a symbol of the aristocratic society and a key feature of the Scottish landscape. Turner includes the labor of the working class, showing their intimate connection to the land and water, and subtly acknowledges their role in the nation’s identity. The ships in the distance allude to trade and travel, suggesting the interconnectedness of Scotland with the wider world. Turner subtly layers themes of labor, class, and national identity into this seemingly simple landscape, inviting us to reflect on the complex relationships between people, place, and power.