Patrick William Adam (1852-1929)
| Artist Name | Patrick William Adam (1852-1929) |
|---|---|
| Title | The Drawing Room |
| Description | This superb exhibited Scottish interior oil painting with excellent provenance is by noted artist Patrick William Adam. Painted in 1915 it was exhibited that year at the Royal Scottish Academy and entitled the Drawing Room, 27 Drumsheugh Gardens which is in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh. It was lent for exhibition by its owner, J R Findlay who was Sir John Richie Findlay (1866-1930) 1st Baronet and Chairman of the National Galleries of Scotland and for a long time Chairman of the Edinburgh College of Art. He was also an original member of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. The painting is of a magnificent drawing room with a table with white flowers, possibly narcissi on in the middle. To the left is a glass cabinet with ornaments and to the right are several paintings on the wall in beautiful gilt frames, caught in the light. although the walls are quite dark, the section of wall below the dado rail is light yellow as are the coving and ceiling, really lightening the painting. There are numerous other ornaments and vases in the room and we can just see the edge of a much larger painting to the left. The detail and brushwork are superb as is the depiction of glancing.This is an excellent example of Adam's work with very good exhibition and ownership provenance and a really beautiful Scottish interior oil painting. Signed lower right and dated 1915. |
| Provenance | Exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1915 no. 281 entitled The Drawing Room, 27 Drumsheugh Gardens (Haymarket Edinburgh) Lent by J R Findlay esq. P Findlay written on strecher verso. Written on stretcher verso that the painting was hung in the drawing room, right of fire. Doig, Wilson and Wheatley Edinburgh framers label verso. Remnants of another label verso. 1353 inscribed in chalk on stretcher verso. |
| Medium | Oil on Canvas |
| Size | 25 x 35 inches |
| Frame | Housed in the original ornate gilt frame, 43 inches by 33 inches, in good condition. |
| Condition | Good condition. |
| Biography | Patrick William Adam RSA (1852-1929) - born in Edinburgh 12 October 1852 to Patrick Adam, a writer, and Louisa Roberts, Patrick William Adam exhibited an early talent for art. He began classes at the RSA in 1874 and studied under William McTaggart and GP Chalmers. Some of his work of that period is in the East Lothian collection: the then curriculum involved intensive study of ‘Old Masters’ – and the production of copies in the Masters’ styles. Adam won the Stuart prize for Life Drawing in 1877, by which time he had already been exhibiting at the RSA for several years He travelled to Rome, Venice and Russia and produced work in several media – watercolour, pastel and (principally) oil; subjects varied from landscapes through portraits to still life but his genre paintings and interiors were reckoned his best work. Much of this was (recognisably) produced from his studio at Ardilea, North Berwick, where he settled in 1908. In 1912 he became a founder member of the Society of Eight, a group of friends who exhibited for many years at the New Gallery in Shandwick Place, Edinburgh. Others in the original group were David Alison, FCB Cadell, John Lavery, Samuel Peploe and James Paterson. More, including Duncan Grant, William MacTaggart and William Gillies were later participants. Their aim was to bridge a perceived Glasgow-Edinburgh divide; the onset of war in 1939 seems to have ended the society. Adam died at his house, Ardilea in North Berwick, on 27 December 1929 and was buried at North Berwick. Adam was elected ARSA in 1883 and RSA in 1897. His work is in several public collections. |
| Price | £18000 |
