A Highland Funeral
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A Highland Funeral
By Sir James Guthrie
In the Glasgow Art Gallery
It is always interesting to study the early work of popular artists, to observe the budding talent as well as the tendencies which afterwards develop into a mature and characteristic style. The "Highland Funeral" contains abundant evidence of the young painter's great gifts, which in after years were to raise him to the pre-eminent position in Scottish art. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1882, when he was but twenty-three years of age, and afterwards appeared in the Glasgow Institute, where it found a purchaser in the late Dr. Forbes white. It was bequeathed to the Glasgow Corporation by Sir James Gardiner, a cousin of the artist in 1903, the year after Sir James Guthrie was unanimously elected President of the Royal Scottish Academy. Considered as the work of a mere youth, the painting is a remarkable effort. The psychological insight it displays, the poignant sorrow which it so well expresses, and the sincerity and force with which it is painted, all combine to make it a noteworthy performance. Save in its portraiture of individuals and the delineation of types, it does not suggest the power of the artist's later work except in its freedom from unessential trivialities. Viewed on its own merits, however, the picture has a claim on the spectators' attention apart from being an example of precocity. Originally intended for the legal profession, Guthrie had no systematic training in art. He left Glasgow in 1879 to study in Paris, but he remained in London on the advice of John Pettie, in whose studio in St. John's Wood he observed the craft of picture-making and received much valuable counsel. Speedy justification followed his determination to adopt Art as a career. Nine years after he journeyed to London he was elected an Associate of the Scottish Academy, becoming a full member five years later, and President nine years after that.
From the book "Famous Paintings" printed in 1913.
Large files of this public domain print are available at Stock Photos at Songs of Praise
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Online "Name the Painting"
Sir James Guthrie Biography
Sir James Guthrie
at Wikipedia
To Pastures New
Sir James Guthrie
Tate Gallery
Miss Helen Sowerby
by Guthrie
Three Portraits by Guthrie
National Portrait Gallery
Page Comments
Most Recent Comments ( See more comments on this page ) 2010-06-03
can someone please tell me who died and where in the painting by guthrie in highland funeral. It does not give story it only talks about himself, who was the boy and where was he
zena
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