William Daniell RA: Engraving of Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyllshire

William Daniell Ra (1769-1837) was an English landscape and marine painter and printmaker, notable for his work in aquatint. In 1813, he started work on his greatest achievement: a series of aquatints for "A Voyage Round Great Britain" which he published with his friend Ayton between 1814-25. There were 308 illustrations done for this work of which this, of Dunstaffnage Castle on the West coast of Scotland, is one. Daniell was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1822. Dunstaffnage was built ca. 1220 for the MacDougalls and has had a turbulent history, being besieged by Robert the Bruce, passing to the Campbells in the 1460s and becoming involved in the Jacobite Rebellion in the 18th century. There is also a ghost- a woman dressed in green - something to do with the murder of one of the lords on his wedding day in the 1460s! Daniell always manages to make his scenes look tranquil and serene. . This image would make a nice pair with our other Daniell engraving of Dunolly Castle near Oban, about 4 mile away on the same coast.