Mountainous Loch Beach Landscape. Walter John James (1869-1932). Oil on canvas; 17½ x 11½ inches (44.5 x 29 cm). Private collection. Click on image to enlarge it.

The fact that this painting refers to a mountainous “loch” rather than a lake suggests that its location is in Scotland and certainly Scotland is the most mountainous area of Britain. If it is Scotland, however, it is rather surprising that vegetation is not covering at least the base of the mountains. The picturesque mountains portrayed in the background are both high and rugged and devoid of vegetation, which could mean the location is elsewhere. They more closely resemble the mountains visible from the Roman Campagna. — Dennis T. Lanigan


Last modified 21 December 2022