About this artwork

This is one of the earliest known representations of the landscape of the Western Isles of Scotland. The painting shows the newly built port of Stornoway on the island of Lewis, with a view of the inner harbour looking across the bay. A fleet of herring ships, a clipper, and the grazing cattle and sheep, together convey the growing prosperity of a town rapidly becoming the most important port in the north west of Scotland.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
  • title:
    A View of Stornoway
  • date created:
    1798
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    84.00 x 117.50 cm; Framed: 99.90 x 132.00 x 7.50 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 2002
  • accession number:
    PG 3291
  • gallery:
  • subject:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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James Barret

James Barret