John Michael Wright's "Portrait of a Lady"

Nationality: English/Scottish

Born-Died: 1617-1694
Creation Date: 17th Century

Size: 27.75 x 34 in (70.5 x 86.5 cm)

Media: Oil on canvas

Location: Private Collection


They really knew how to do it back then.

Henry Raeburn's "William Fraser Reelig"

Nationality: Scottish

Born-Died: 1756-1823
Creation Date: 1801

Size: 29 x 24.5 in (74.9 x 62.2 cm)

Media: Oil on canvas

Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York, USA

Gunnie Moberg's "Duncan McLean and Irvine Welsh"

Nationality: Scottish

Born-Died: 1941-2007
Creation Date: 1993

Size: 9.8 x 15.2 inch (25 x 38.5 cm)

Media: Color photograph

Location: The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

It is not often we have the opportunity to see a true masterpiece on this blog. 

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably aware that today’s work of Art finds it’s home in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, where it continues to draw spectators from all over the world, year after year.  I have often wondered if it is indeed possible to mine the depths of this seemingly impenetrable image which appears to us so complex and yet so simple as it holds us (as subject) in it’s uninhibitedly profound gaze. 

Often called "Moberg's Masterpiece" Duel Portrait of McLean and Welsh

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 7: Statue

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Marble
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

I admit that I don't know who this is a statue of.

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 6: A Variety of Carvings and Architectural Details

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Marble
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 5: Statue

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Marble
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 4: Carved Animals

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Wood
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 3: Tomb of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Marble
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 2: Stained Glass Window

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Stained glass
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Photo by me.

St. Giles Cathedral, Day 1: Sculpture

Nationality: Scottish
Media: Stone
Location: St. Giles Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

This week I'm going to post images from St. Giles Cathedral* located in the old town of Edinburgh.

It was quite dark in there and I was hesitant to use a flash, so pardon the blurriness and darkness of these images.  I did my best to photoshop them into a recognizable state.

* it's technically not a cathedral.

Henry Raeburn's "Portrait of Master George John Fraser of Reelig"

Nationality: Scottish
Born-Died: 1756-1823Media: Oil on canvas
Location: Private Collection

Unknown Sculpture by Unknown Scottish Artist

Nationality: Scottish
Size: 88 in. (224 cm)
Media: Sandstone
Location: Edinburgh, UK

I saw this nice example of architectural decoration while walking around Edinburgh. It's made of the red sandstone that is used all over Edinburgh, and unfortunately that type of stone doesn't seem to hold up too well. Any fine detail work this piece may have had is obviously long gone. The torso is nicely sculpted but the hands are awkward, so maybe it did not have much detail to loose. Although I don't always like this kind of decorative choice, being from a country where representational architectural decorations are rare I though it was interesting to see.

Unknown Bust by Unknown Scottish Artist

Nationality: Scottish

Media: stone
Location: The National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

I took this photo on my first trip to Edinburgh.



I would like to take a moment to point out some minor annoyances I have with the website for the National Galleries of Scotland. Since I lived in Edinburgh for two years I have grappled with this website a great deal and I have never had a chance to communicate these little irritations.

Sketch by Ken Dingwall

Nationality: Scottish
Born/Died: 1938
Creation Date: 2001
Media: Graphite on paper
Location: Collection of Justin Wisniewski and Laura Bell

Ken Dingwall was a painting teacher of mine at the Cleveland Institute of Art. I admit that as a student I often didn't often understand his advice, but after graduation when I had more time to think about the things he used to say, I was able to see just how wise he was.

This is a small sketch he made in my sketchbook during a meeting in my studio. He was getting annoyed with my bad drawing habits so with this little sketch he reminded me to shade in the major values before worrying about the smaller details. That was a lesson I never forgot and I think it is because I saved this little sketch.

When I was recently studying in Edinburgh, where Ken now lives, he mentioned that I should drop him a line to meet up but I was so busy with school that I never got around to it which is something I regret. Maybe my next visit there will include a quick visit.

Thomas Millie Dow's "At the Edge of the Wood"

Nationality: Scottish
Born/Died: 1848-1919

Creation Date: 1886
Size: 36.2 x 30.1 in. (92 x 76.5 cm)
Media: Oil on Canvas
Location: Private Collection

James Cowie's "The Yellow Glove"

Nationality: Scottish
Born-Died: 1886-1956
Creation Date: 1828
Media: Oil on canvas
Size: 22 x 26.1 in. (56 x 66.3 cm)
Location: National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, UK

This fantastic painting reminds me of Ayn Rand.

William Grant Stevenson's "William Wallace"

On this Day in the History of Art: George Inness born (1825), Jules Breton born (1827), Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys born (1829), Adelsteen Normann born (1848), Theo Van Gogh born (1857), Ralph Stackpole born (1885), Antonín Dvořák died (1904), Empire State Building dedicated (1931)

Nationality: Scottish
Born-Died: 1849 - 1919
Creation Date: 1888
Media: Bronze
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

Since today is the 683rd anniversary of Scotland gaining it's independence from England I am posting an image of this fantastic statue of William Wallace. The historical record for this sculpture states that Wallace is "returning [a] defiant answer to English ambassadors before the battle of Stirling Bridge" but I don't know what his gesture means specifically.

Unknown Painting by Peter Graham

Thomas Millie Dow's "Spring"

Peter Graham's "Wandering Shadows"

It's unfortunate that I don't have a higher resolution photograph of this amazing painting.