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Student Artwork Guide

Loch Katrine

Alexander Nasmyth

Name Class Date
Alexander Nasmyth, Loch Katrine. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Alexander Nasmyth originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/alexander-nasmyth/
Artist’s dates
1758 – 1840
Movement
Romanticism Art that puts feeling, wildness and the power of nature above calm order and rules.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Alexander Nasmyth died in 1840; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1910.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

Loch Katrine — Alexander Nasmyth Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Loch Katrine — Alexander Nasmyth

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1750
  2. 1760
  3. 1770
  4. 1780
  5. 1790
  6. 1800
  7. 1810
  8. 1820
  9. 1830
  10. 1840

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 82 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Alexander Nasmyth (1758–1840) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/alexander-nasmyth-loch-katrine-9DG4U8-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Gray #84867a

    Catalogued palette

    • #84867A
    • #231D0D
    • #A7B1B2
    • #564E31

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Gray
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Alexander Nasmyth over the last twelve months — 4 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 68.8%1,100 visits
    2. 2 Singapore 12.5%200 visits
    3. 3 United States of America 12.5%200 visits
    4. 4 Germany 6.2%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 19 most looked-at works by Alexander Nasmyth

    1. 1 Walmgate Bar, York 10.0%200 visits
    2. 2 A View of Tantallon Castle, 1816 5.0%100 visits
    3. 3 View Of Edinburgh Castle 5.0%100 visits
    4. 4 The Old Tolbooth Of Edinburgh During Demolition 5.0%100 visits
    5. 5 The Ferry At Inver 5.0%100 visits
    6. 6 Princes Street With The Commencement Of The Building Of The Royal Institution 5.0%100 visits
    7. 7 The Spottiswoode Ox 5.0%100 visits
    8. 8 A Distant View Of Stirling 5.0%100 visits
    9. 9 Falls Of Clyde 5.0%100 visits
    10. 10 Landscape 5.0%100 visits
    11. 11 The Old Cottage At Elery In Westmoreland 5.0%100 visits
    12. 12 Loch Doon, Ayrshire 5.0%100 visits
    13. 13 Loch Katrine this painting 5.0%100 visits
    14. 14 Highland Landscape 5.0%100 visits
    15. 15 A View Of Culzean Castle In The Early Evening 5.0%100 visits
    16. 16 Pass Of The Cows, Highlands 5.0%100 visits
    17. 17 River Scene With Figures 5.0%100 visits
    18. 18 A Panoramic View Of London From Denmark Hill 5.0%100 visits
    19. 19 The Union Chain Bridge 5.0%100 visits

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 108 works by this artist, of which 19 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 13 of them, with 5.0% of that attention (100 visits). The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Loch Katrine — Alexander Nasmyth Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Alexander Nasmyth

    Born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Alexander Nasmyth: A Scottish Pioneer of Landscape Painting

    Born: Edinburgh, United Kingdom (1758)

    Died: 1840

    Alexander Nasmyth was a pivotal figure in Scottish art history, renowned as both a portraitist and, more significantly, a landscape painter. He is often credited with being the "father of Scottish landscape painting," bridging the gap between traditional portraiture and the burgeoning Romantic movement's focus on natural scenery.

    Early Life and Training

    Apprenticed to a coachbuilder before pursuing art.

    Studied at the Royal High School and Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh.

    Worked as an assistant to Allan Ramsay, a prominent portrait painter, in London (1774-1778). This experience provided valuable technical training and exposure to contemporary artistic trends.

    Returned to Edinburgh in 1778 and established himself as a portraitist.

    Travelled to Italy (1782-1784) with financial support from Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, where he deepened his understanding of landscape painting by studying Italian masters and copying works, notably those by Claude Lorrain.

    Artistic Development and Key Works

    Initially painted portraits in the style of Ramsay but gradually shifted towards conversation pieces with outdoor settings.

    His portrait of Robert Burns (1787) is a notable work from his early career, showcasing his skill in capturing character and likeness.

    Around 1792, Nasmyth abandoned portraiture entirely to focus on landscape painting, influenced by political events and shifting artistic preferences.

    Developed a distinctive style characterized by detailed observation of natural features and architectural elements. His landscapes are all depictions of actual places.

    He also designed scenery for theatres and painted panoramas, demonstrating his versatility as an artist.

    Notable works include: View of Edinburgh from the West (1822-6), A View Of Edinburgh From The Dean, Pass Of The Cows, Highlands, and various depictions of Scottish lochs and castles.

    Engineering Interests and Innovations

    Nasmyth possessed a keen interest in engineering and proposed several innovative ideas, though he never patented them.

    He was involved in the improvement and beautification of estates for members of the Scottish nobility.

    Designed notable structures such as the circular temple covering St Bernard's Well (1789) and bridges at Almondell and Tongland.

    Participated in a historic trial of Patrick Miller’s steamship on Dalswinton Loch in 1788, demonstrating his forward-thinking perspective.

    Legacy and Influence

    Established a drawing school in Edinburgh that profoundly influenced a generation of artists, including David Wilkie, David Roberts, Clarkson Stanfield, John Thomson of Duddingston, and even the young John James Ruskin (father of John Ruskin).

    His emphasis on drawing from nature directly had a lasting impact on artistic training.

    Six of his daughters also became notable artists, contributing to a family legacy in the arts.

    Nasmyth's work helped establish landscape painting as a respected genre in Scotland and paved the way for later generations of Scottish landscape artists.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Loch Katrine

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/alexander-nasmyth-loch-katrine-9DG4U8-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Nasmyth, Alexander. Loch Katrine. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alexander-nasmyth-loch-katrine-9DG4U8-en/
    APA
    Nasmyth, Alexander (n.d.). Loch Katrine [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alexander-nasmyth-loch-katrine-9DG4U8-en/
    Chicago
    Alexander Nasmyth. Loch Katrine. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alexander-nasmyth-loch-katrine-9DG4U8-en/
    Harvard
    Nasmyth, Alexander (n.d.) Loch Katrine. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alexander-nasmyth-loch-katrine-9DG4U8-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Loch Katrine — Alexander Nasmyth Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Loch Katrine — Alexander Nasmyth

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 3 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: scottish highlands, loch katrine, mountain landscape. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet (1787), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Loch Katrine — Alexander Nasmyth Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What level of contrast does "Loch Katrine" by Alexander Nasmyth show?

    "Loch Katrine" by Alexander Nasmyth shows a statement contrast between its light and dark areas.

    What color saturation does "Loch Katrine" by Alexander Nasmyth have?

    "Loch Katrine" by Alexander Nasmyth is recorded with a muted saturation.

    Which artistic current is "Loch Katrine" by Alexander Nasmyth part of?

    The movement associated with "Loch Katrine" by Alexander Nasmyth is Romanticism. This classification situates the work among related artists and artworks.