Balmoral Castle, Royal Deeside, Antique Engraving after W. Leitch, circa 1876

Balmoral Castle rises in the middle distance of this broad Highland landscape, its turreted tower clear against a range of mountains. The castle sits above the river on a terrace of lawns, with outbuildings stretched to the right, and the valley opens beyond toward hills with snow or cloud on their summits. In the foreground a small party pauses on a rough heathland track: a donkey carries a load, a woman and child walk beside it, and a boy sits on the bank with a bundle of sticks. Birch and pine frame both sides of the view.

The plate is lettered "Balmoral Castle". Balmoral, on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the present castle in Scottish baronial style was completed for them in 1856. It made Royal Deeside famous and remains a private royal residence. The drawing is credited to W. Leitch and the engraving to J. Godfrey, and the sheet carries the imprint of Cassell, Petter & Galpin of London.

This is a steel engraving printed in black ink on wove paper, without color. Godfrey sets the fine, pale detail of the distant castle and mountains against the darker, more richly worked foreground of heather and trees, which gives the view real depth.

A natural companion to other Scottish views, it would look at home in a study, a lodge or a country kitchen, framed in dark oak with a generous mat.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.