Scottish Art

The Ferry on the Loch by Joseph Farquharson

9 November 2026

Romey Clark

The Ferry on the Loch by Joseph Farquharson (1846–1935) is a striking example of the artist working on a monumental scale. Best known for his wintry landscapes, often depicting hardy shepherds and their flocks crossing snow-covered fields in the harshest of conditions, Farquharson here instead demonstrates his versatility as an artist.

By rejecting his popular snow scenes in favour of a traditional wooden ferry boat transporting a flock of sheep across a quiet Scottish loch, he is still able to showcase his skilful treatment of light.

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Here Farquharson uses his characteristic low-sun geometry to explore the delicate relationships between light, atmosphere and water in the Scottish Highlands. The sun casts bright, shimmering reflections across the expansive loch, demonstrating his ability to capture how light is never still, instead, shifting and varying with every passing second. The shepherds aboard the boat and standing on the dock are beautifully silhouetted against the luminous landscape, while the warm radiance of the sun seems to emanate from the canvas itself. This work highlights how Farquharson could easily turn his brush to other subjects and still excel.

The Ferry on the Loch was exhibited at the Royal Academy’s annual exhibition in London in 1907, where it attracted considerable interest. Its subsequent popularity and commercial success are further reflected in its reproduction as an etching by the Fine Art Society.

Artists

Joseph Farquharson

Scottish 1846 - 1935

Department

Scottish Art

Specialist

Romey Clark

Associate Specialist, Fine Art