DOI Heft:
No. 37 (April, 1896)
DOI Artikel:Knox, Archibald: The Isle of Man as a sketching ground
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17296#0158
The Isle of Man as a Sketching Ground
wash of the villages and farmhouses are its only There are usually trees and a pool of water near
relief. The variety of vegetable life is small, and these small homesteads, and the great circle of the
one never sees here those large expanses of flowers waterwheel or the horse-circle of the threshing floor
which, in larger countries, colour the view, and are gives a touch of dignity to the simple forms,
so captivating 'a feature to both the artist and the In the north of the Island there are two places
casual observer. The views are, however, by no where you may profitably settle. Sulby, at the foot
means monotonous. of the steep hills, is a very convenient and cheap place
The slight slopes and uplands at a perpetual to stay at. Separated from it by a curragh about two
angle of thirty degrees, interrupt the view and miles wide is Jurby. Jurby is quiet and remote,
touch the dark bases of the high clouds, while the The country is sandy and flat, and the bowed sky-
sunlit tones relieved against the darker sky form line is unbroken save by a tumulus or a bare cottage,
quite the most distinctive and charming feature But the clouds forming and floating away over the
of the scenery. mountains of Sulby may be seen from here as
There is only one building in the island—the clouds can be seen from few other places. The
ruined cathedral church of Sodor—which is built sea-cliffs at Jurby are warm-coloured sand. Each
with a spirit that is of higher value in art. The farm- rivulet has at its mouth a little mill washed into
houses are unadorned buildings arranged in some the loveliest of colours by the drifting spray of the
consistent and simple order. They are always of sea. Along the shore, north from Jurby, is a stretch
grey stone, warm with bloom, for they are for the of some miles of "ayre," where nothing presents
most part very old and present great spaces of wall, itself but gorse, bent-grass, and sea. The shipping
broken only by very small windows. from Scotch and Irish ports going Liverpoolwards
passes this place, often so close as
to quite dominate the view. Sulby
is a place for the painter of evening
effects. The setting sun shines
across an almost level country. In
its light the spurs of the hills, the
islands of trees, the grey houses em-
bosomed in them, and the damp air
from the curragh present beautiful
effects of tone.
Sulby has also its attractions at
other times of the day; its little
glens, its trees, villages, claddagh,
and river, make it perhaps the most
charming district in the island. The
rose and gold cumuli that hover over
the mountains of Galloway and Cum-
berland form a striking feature of the
grand northward view from the vil-
lage. Within easy reach from Sulby
' 'jr,i, by rail or on foot are the villages of
Kirkmichael, Ballaugh, and The
douglas river from a pencil sketch by a. knox Dollagh, which small agricultural
144
wash of the villages and farmhouses are its only There are usually trees and a pool of water near
relief. The variety of vegetable life is small, and these small homesteads, and the great circle of the
one never sees here those large expanses of flowers waterwheel or the horse-circle of the threshing floor
which, in larger countries, colour the view, and are gives a touch of dignity to the simple forms,
so captivating 'a feature to both the artist and the In the north of the Island there are two places
casual observer. The views are, however, by no where you may profitably settle. Sulby, at the foot
means monotonous. of the steep hills, is a very convenient and cheap place
The slight slopes and uplands at a perpetual to stay at. Separated from it by a curragh about two
angle of thirty degrees, interrupt the view and miles wide is Jurby. Jurby is quiet and remote,
touch the dark bases of the high clouds, while the The country is sandy and flat, and the bowed sky-
sunlit tones relieved against the darker sky form line is unbroken save by a tumulus or a bare cottage,
quite the most distinctive and charming feature But the clouds forming and floating away over the
of the scenery. mountains of Sulby may be seen from here as
There is only one building in the island—the clouds can be seen from few other places. The
ruined cathedral church of Sodor—which is built sea-cliffs at Jurby are warm-coloured sand. Each
with a spirit that is of higher value in art. The farm- rivulet has at its mouth a little mill washed into
houses are unadorned buildings arranged in some the loveliest of colours by the drifting spray of the
consistent and simple order. They are always of sea. Along the shore, north from Jurby, is a stretch
grey stone, warm with bloom, for they are for the of some miles of "ayre," where nothing presents
most part very old and present great spaces of wall, itself but gorse, bent-grass, and sea. The shipping
broken only by very small windows. from Scotch and Irish ports going Liverpoolwards
passes this place, often so close as
to quite dominate the view. Sulby
is a place for the painter of evening
effects. The setting sun shines
across an almost level country. In
its light the spurs of the hills, the
islands of trees, the grey houses em-
bosomed in them, and the damp air
from the curragh present beautiful
effects of tone.
Sulby has also its attractions at
other times of the day; its little
glens, its trees, villages, claddagh,
and river, make it perhaps the most
charming district in the island. The
rose and gold cumuli that hover over
the mountains of Galloway and Cum-
berland form a striking feature of the
grand northward view from the vil-
lage. Within easy reach from Sulby
' 'jr,i, by rail or on foot are the villages of
Kirkmichael, Ballaugh, and The
douglas river from a pencil sketch by a. knox Dollagh, which small agricultural
144