Gezicht op de ruïne van Pitsligo Castle 1801

James Fittler created this print of Pitsligo Castle in Scotland in the late 18th or early 19th century. Here, the artist gives us a view of a crumbling castle, likely made after the structure was partially destroyed by government forces in 1746 following the Battle of Culloden. This image tells us much about the cultural reception of ruined buildings in this time. We can consider the specific features of Scotland and the UK during the period of its production. The rise of Romanticism and the “picturesque” aesthetic encouraged the appreciation of ruins, and the taste for the sublime. These tastes were closely tied to a sense of national identity, as well as a fascination with the past. By studying the print and the history of Pitsligo Castle, we can better understand the social and cultural forces that shaped its creation.