View of Taymouth

James Norie’s view of Taymouth locates the recently improved seat of the earls of Breadalbane in an extensive landscape. Commissioned in 1733 and reworked in 1739 to reflect changes, it is an early example of Scottish estate portraiture. While its elevated ‘bird’s-eye’ viewpoint allows the painters to highlight these changes – such as the geometric alignments of the policies - it also enables them to detail land use and property boundaries. Famous for its garden ornaments, follies and spectacular natural wonders, Taymouth would become a key site on the petit tour.