🌙 Moonlight Over Loch Ness – Urquhart Castle in Nocturne

Original Vintage Oil Painting | After James Bell Anderson | Circa 1950

🎨 Subject & Medium
Step into a dreamscape of Highland mystery and romantic moonlight with this captivating original oil painting on board, circa 1950. Titled Moonlight Over Loch Ness – Urquhart Castle in Nocturne, this evocative work captures the haunting beauty of Scotland’s iconic Urquhart Castle under a silver-lit sky.

Set along the dark waters of Loch Ness, the composition unfolds beneath a moody, cloud-scattered night sky. A radiant full moon glows through the mist, casting shimmering reflections on the calm loch. To the left, two wind-swept trees rise like sentinels, their dark silhouettes etched against the moonlit glow. The eye is gently led along the curving shoreline to the distant ruins of Urquhart Castle, bathed in spectral light against a mountainous backdrop.

Painted in oil, the medium allows for rich layering and expressive treatment of light—bringing depth and emotion to this legendary Highland vista.

🌌 Composition & Technique
Executed in the romantic nocturne style popularized by James Bell Anderson, this work is both atmospheric and technically assured. The composition is well-balanced, inviting the viewer to travel from the grounded foreground to the mystical distance where water, castle, and moonlight converge.

Brushwork is thoughtful and varied:

• Broad, gestural strokes in the sky create drama and movement

• Fine detailing in the trees, shoreline, and ruins adds intimacy and structure

🎨 The color palette is moody and refined:

• Deep greens and earthy browns evoke the Highland terrain in shadow

• Muted silvers, cool greys, and blues dominate sky and loch, enhancing the nocturnal glow

• Touches of warm ochre around the sandy shore create depth and contrast

• The moon’s reflection is painted with delicate luminosity, a true hallmark of classic nocturne painting

The work straddles the line between realism and romanticism—grounded in place, yet bathed in poetic mystery.

✍️ Signature
Signed in the lower-left corner with the monogram “T B”, indicating this is a mid-20th-century homage painted after the style of James Bell Anderson.

👤 About the Artist (James Bell Anderson)
While not painted by Anderson himself, this piece pays faithful tribute to his legacy.
James Bell Anderson (1886–1938) was renowned for his luminous, emotionally rich landscapes and moonlit scenes. Born in Fife, Scotland, Anderson developed a singular style that fused technical skill with romantic depth. His nocturnes—often depicting the Highlands under moonlight—are particularly treasured for their mood, mysticism, and timeless atmosphere.

This painting echoes Anderson’s sensibility—serving as both homage and standalone artwork of charm and resonance.

📏 Framed Dimensions
35 cm wide × 30 cm high × 2 cm deep
Set in an ornate, vintage gilt decorative moulded frame—a beautiful complement to the artwork, ready to hang and admire.

🧾 Provenance

• From a Private Collection

• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

• Formerly exhibited at a Middle Shire Museum

💚 Why You’ll Love It
✅ A moody and magical depiction of Loch Ness under moonlight
✅ Rich in Highland romance, history, and atmosphere
✅ Faithfully painted in tribute to James Bell Anderson’s iconic style
✅ Beautiful interplay of light, shadow, and reflective water
✅ A rare and emotional vintage piece perfect for art lovers and Scotland enthusiasts
✅ Elegant vintage frame enhances its timeless charm
✅ Ideal for both traditional interiors and modern collectors

🧼 Condition

• Good overall vintage condition

• Stable paint surface with no visible flaking or restoration

• Some foxing and minor soiling consistent with age—could benefit from a professional clean

• Frame is structurally sound, with light wear and small chip losses typical for age

🌍 Worldwide Shipping Available
Professionally packaged and fully insured for safe international delivery.

🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

📩 Inquire now to secure this unique piece