The foreground figures help establish the scale of this awe inspiring view over the remote Loch Coruisk. The Cuillin Mountains soar above the loch like gigantic waves. Water, rock and cloud fuse together in a whirling vortex. Turner skilfully conveys the powerful grandeur of the scene on a small sheet of paper, drawing on his memory and the pencil sketches he made after the spectacular climb from the loch-shore. Turner had travelled north from Edinburgh in 1831 to prepare suitable subjects for his illustrations of Scott's works. This appeared as the frontispiece to Cadell's edition of 'Lord of the Isles.'