Boghall from Biggar n.d.

John Clerk of Eldin created this etching of Boghall from Biggar sometime in the late 18th century. Here, Clerk invites us to reflect on the historical narratives embedded within the Scottish landscape. Boghall Castle, now a ruin, stands as a testament to changing social and political power. Clerk was a Scottish advocate and judge, deeply involved in the intellectual debates of the Scottish Enlightenment. This image reveals a Romantic sensibility. The ruined castle might be seen as a visual metaphor for the decline of the old feudal order, a subject of intense interest during this period of social and political change. To fully understand this etching, we can delve into the history of the Clerk family, the social context of 18th-century Scotland, and the artistic conventions of landscape representation. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.