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George Washington Wilson (1823-93)

Blair Athole c. 1863

Albumen print | 7.7 x 9.5 cm (image) | RCIN 2950698

  • Photograph of a view of a town taken from a grassy hillside. The town itself occupies a flat section of land or plain with the River Garry visible on the left side. A building with a thatched roof and bordered by a stone wall is in the middle ground.

    Blair Athole is situated in Perthshire, Scotland. The Gaelic name refers to a plain or 'blar' that the town occupies. In his book Photographs of English and Scottish Scenery published in 1868, Wilson describes Blair Athole thus: 'The village is situated upon a rising ground which overlooks a rising plain at the junction of the [rivers] Tilt and Garry, and is now fast rising into importance, having a spacious hotel for the accommodation of visitors, and communicating both north and south by the Highland Railway.'

    This photograph is from a portfolio of 42 photographs taken by Wilson that were used to illustrate a book featuring entries from Queen Victoria's journals, written during her visits to Scotland. Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands, was published to great success in 1868.

    Provenance

    Presented to Alice Plucknett Helps (b. 1839), eldest daughter of Sir Arthur Helps, by Queen Victoria on 14th June 1868

  • Medium and techniques

    Albumen print

    Measurements

    7.7 x 9.5 cm (image)

  • Category
    Object type(s)
  • Alternative title(s)

    Photographs to illustrate the Queen's book 'Leaves from the journal of our life in the Highlands'