DESCRIPTION OF PRINT: This engraving shows one of a series of dramatic waterfalls on the Keltie Water to the north east of Callander. The falls are approached along a woodland walk from a car park by the Callander Crags at Callander. They are also referred to as the Falls of Brackland. Located in the woods above the town, the spectacular tumble of white water never fails to impress. The car park at the start of this walk is a short drive out of town and at the back of the car park, a small path descends to an information board where the route proper begins. Turn left and a good solid path runs east through mixed woodland. It skirts the edge of a tall plantation of conifers on the right, open scrubland covering the hillside to your left, before emerging on to open hillside, with views over the valley of the River Teith. The path rises a little along the edge of an open field before, in due course, descending a fairly steep set of wooden steps where the rumbling of the falls becomes ever louder, confirming your approach. Popular with visitors as far back as the Victorian era, the falls come alive as the Keltie Water squeezes its bubbling torrent through a series of narrow rock channels. There's a little bridge over the most impressive bit and, on the far side, a natural platform of rock offers a good spot from which to view the frothing turbulence below. From here, a path climbs through the trees. It follows the river east, perched high above the channel below to your right. The woodland narrows and open fields soon become apparent to the left. Continue along the path as it curves right, emerging into a grassy field where sheep are often to be found grazing. Bear left at this point and walk up the field to a fence at the top. Follow this to the right to reach a shed at the end of a track and turn left, heading up the track. The route climbs round the open hillside and, in about half a mile, enters forestry. Carry on up through the trees and, at the next junction of tracks, bear left and descend to a bridge over the river. The way rises to meet a single track road on the other side. Turn left on the tarmac and follow the road south.
BIOGRAPHY OF ARTIST AND HISTORY OF THIS PRINT: Thomas Allom, painter and architect, (1804-1872) was born in London, England on 13th March 1804. He was articled to Francis Goodwin, an architect in 1819. He was to become a founder member of the R.I.B.A. (Royal Institute of British Architects - which is still the premier institution today). He is best know for his topographical drawings, so many of which were engraved on steel & appeared in many of the travel books of the time. He travelled extensively, not just in the UK & Europe, but further afield, covering such countries as Turkey & China. Collections of his work can be found in the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Allom worked mostly for the Fisher, Son & Co. publishing house of London, but during the late 1830s completed several sketches of the landscape and architecture scenery of Scotland for publisher George Virtue & Co. Allom traveled throughout the Scottish countryside, visiting the cities, towns and parishes, lochs and glens; recording with paint and brush the scenic views of the country. His works of Scotland are all dated between 1834-1838.
Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, etching, heliogravure, lithograph, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, and NOT blocks of steel or wood. "ENGRAVINGS" is the term commonly used for these paper prints that were created from a master plate, and were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books. These paper prints or "engravings" were inserted into the book with a tissue guard or onion skin frontis to protect them from transferring the image to the opposite page. These prints were usually on much thicker quality woven rag stock paper, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone lithographs. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper.
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