The Scalp

Artist(s): John Carr (Draughtsman), Thomas Medland (Engraver)

View of the Scalp, a narrow glacial valley just west of the summit of Barnaslingan Hill, Co. Dublin. In the foreground, a carriage and pair is about to exit the pass into open country. To right and left, massive rocks form the sides of the pass, towering above the human figures. Further on, a man with a walking stick and two other figures can be seen on the road, which passes by a tower house and continues on toward the mountains in the background. The tall pointed one represents the Great Sugarloaf, which lies south of the Scalp.

Inscribed in Image

Signature – Drawn by J Carr Esq.re / Engraved by T. Medland
Caption outside of boundaries of image – The Scalp / Published June 2 1806 by R. Phillips. No. 6, New Bridge Street, Black fryars

Image Details

Genre	Landscape
Technique	Aquatints
Subject(s)	Nature
Geographical Location	Dublin – County Leinster – Province The Scalp – Named locality Wicklow – County
Keyword(s)	Buildings, Carriages & coaches, Cliffs, Coach drivers, Hats, Hills, Horses, Lands, Men, People, Ravines, Rock formations, Towers
Colour	Coloured
Dimensions	13.7 cm x 20.5 cm
Published / created	1806

Bibliographical Details

Travel Account	The stranger in Ireland
Contributor(s)	John Carr — Role: Author of travel text
Print or manuscript	Print
Location of image in copy	opp. p. 139
Source copy	National Library of Ireland LO 2699 Dir. Off.
Permalink	https://ttce.universityofgalway.ie/irelandillustrated/view/image/ii_image_1371204521
Rights	Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Related text from travel account

The first grand and extraordinary object which we met with was a chasm which some vast convulsion of nature seemed to have formed, by having forced its way through a mighty mountain, and divided it into elevated ridges of detached grey rock and massy stones, which, projecting in a variety of forms, looked ready to roll down, with ruin and havoc in their train into the valley below, through // which the road turned. This wonderful aperture is called the Scalp, of which I made a sketch, more for its extraordinary appearance than picturesque beauty. Between its craggy slopes, a contrasted level country, well cultivated, gradually swelling at a distance, and closed by the mountains called the Sugar-loaves, pushing their dusky tops into the skies, presented an interesting and very singular view. [pp. 138-139]