Kenmure Castle and Loch Ken

A steel plate engraving from a painting by D O Hill RSA of the home of the Gordons, the Viscounts of Kenmure, in Kirkcudbrightshire.   In 1793 Robert Burns and his friend, John Syme made a tour of the historic sites of Galloway. They visited Kenmure Castle, at the head of Loch Ken, the home of John Gordon, Viscount Kenmure. Gordon was MP for the county and a fellow Freemason, referred to by Burns as, "Kenmure sae generous" in an election ballad.   The Gordon family had been Jacobite sympathisers who lost their fortune and estates following the 1715 Rebellion. It was here that Burns was inspired to write his song, "Scots Wha Hae".   This view of Kenmure Castle was published in "The Land of Burns - A series of Landscapes and Portraits, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of the Scottish Poet". This was published in 1846 by Blackie and Son of Glasgow. At this time the development of steel plate engraving made it possible for images to be reproduced in much greater numbers than previous printing technology had allowed. Books such as this one, illustrated by engravings of works by eminent artists became popular, although they were still expensive and beyond the pocket of most people.
Object no :
DMBN199n
Collection :
Creator :
W Richardson
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
width: 141 mm, length: 93 mm
Materials :
paper
Location :
NA
Accession number :
DUMFM:0199.72 [Land of Burns, Volume II]
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council
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