John Blake MacDonald (1829-1901)
| Artist Name | John Blake MacDonald (1829-1901) |
|---|---|
| Title | River Garry Perthshire, Scotland Landscape with Fishermen |
| Description | This superb Scottish Victorian landscape oil painting is by noted Scottish artist John Blake MacDonald. It was painted in 1876 and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy the same year, entitled On the Garry. The Garry is a river in Perthshire, a major tributary of the river Tummel, itself a tributary of the river Tay, and has 3½ miles of double bank fishing. The composition is the river Garry with fishermen on the right bank. In the middle ground are trees and sheep in a field. Beyond is a massive, slightly misty mountain range stretching across the entire horizon, with a break in the clouds for blue sky, beautifully reflected in the river. MacDonald favoured landscape painting in later life and our painting is a wonderful example of his work with great colouring and brushwork. Signed and dated 1876 lower left. |
| Provenance | Exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1876 no 146 entitled On the Garry (a river in Perthshire). |
| Medium | Oil on Canvas |
| Size | 36 x 24 inches |
| Frame | Housed in a gilt empire frame, 44 inches by 32 inches framed and in good condition. |
| Condition | Good condition. |
| Biography | .John Blake MacDonald (R.S.A.) (1829-1901). Painter of historical subjects, especially Jacobite, also figurative works, domestic genre and latterly landscape working in both oil and watercolour. MacDonald was born in Boharm, Ayrshire, Scotland and educated there before going to Edinburgh where in 1857 he entered the RSA life school where in 1862 he won the Royal Scottish Academy prize for life painting. He studied under Scott Lauder with Chalmers and MacTaggart. He made Edinburgh his home with frequent visits to France, Belgium and in 1874 Venice. He painted in a strong, bold manner using dark colours and the chiaroscuro effects encouraged by R S Lauder. His best work was effective and very Scottish in feel. In later life he gave up figure painting in favour of landscapes. Elected ARSA 1862. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1866 to 1876. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1877 and subsequently exhibited 76 works there. He died in Edinburgh in 1901. |
| Price | £5800 |
