Artwork
Ireland in Scotland, or a Trip from Oxford to the Land of Cakes
Ireland in Scotland, or a Trip from Oxford to the Land of Cakes is a print by the Romanticist artist Richard Dighton. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1940.850
- Credit line
- Bequest of James Parmelee
About this work
Overview
Created in 1807 by English printmaker Richard Dighton, Ireland in Scotland, or a Trip from Oxford to the Land of Cakes is an early‑19th‑century print in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a solitary figure on a rocky ledge, rendered against a muted beige ground that hints at distant foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a balding gentleman in formal attire, a long coat, waistcoat and black shoes, holding a hat in one hand and a cane in the other. He gazes to his left, suggesting contemplation of an unseen landscape, while the title playfully juxtaposes Irish and Scottish motifs with an imagined journey from Oxford to a fanciful "Land of Cakes."
Technique & Style
Executed in the print medium, Dighton employs fine line work to delineate the figure’s clothing and the rocky outcrop, while broader washes create the soft, beige background. The composition reflects Romantic sensibilities through its emphasis on individual emotion and a solitary, introspective pose, even as the medium remains rooted in the commercial print traditions of the period.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings as part of its early‑19th‑century British print collection. Although specific acquisition details are limited, the work exemplifies Dighton’s prolific output of portraiture and satirical prints that circulated widely in England during the Napoleonic era.
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