The Highland Whiskey Still (1827) by Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73). Source: “Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” (1875): 66. “Lent by Mssrs. Hay and Son, Newcastle-on-Castle” Formatting and text by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Hathi Trust and the University of Michigan and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document, or cite it in a print one.]
The engraving, by R. Graves, A.R.A., of Landseer’s large picture of ‘The Highland Whisky Still,’ exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1830, has but little resemblance to the sketch here the sketch and the finished picture 'that indicate the same locality; such, for example, as the distance on each side of the similarity ends. In the completed picture the hut, or arbour of central mass, and the forms of some of the trees; but here all trees, in the sketch, is converted into a decent dwelling-place—a cottage in fact; and several figures are engaged in and about not to conceal from the exciseman, instead of, as here, overvit, as if they were carrying on some operations which they cared thing giving token of unlawful proceedings. The sketch, which is in oils, might rightly be called ‘The Illicit Whisky Still;’ for the Highlander who is in charge of the distillery seems to. be on the watch for the approach of any unwelcome visitor, as if conscious that he is committing a legal offence. [66-68]
Bibliography
“Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” Art-Journal (1875): 65-67. Hathi Trust version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 23 March 2014
Last modified 23 March 2014