This watercolour was the result of sketches made by Turner on his 1831 tour of Scotland, the purpose of which was to gather material for illustrations to Walter Scott's works.
The view of Inverness was engraved as the front-piece to Scott's 'Tales of a Grandfather', published in 1836. Turner was reluctant to travel to Scotland and managed to upset Scott while there.
Provenance
H.A.J.Munro; sale Christie's, 1878; C.W.Wheeley Lea; Mrs Wheeley Lea, sale Christie's 1917; bought by James King; Frank Gaskell; by descent to Mrs Joan Gaskell; Sotheby's 1992.