William Stewart MacGeorge (1861-1931)
| Artist Name | William Stewart MacGeorge (1861-1931) |
|---|---|
| Title | Kirkcudbright, Scotland |
| Description | This wonderful atmospheric Scottish Impressionist landscape oil painting is by much noted and exhibited Scottish artist William Stewart MacGeorge. Painted circa 1900 the view is of Kirkcudbright in Scotland. Kirkcudbright is a town, parish and a Royal Burgh from 1455 in Kirkcudbrightshire, of which it is traditionally the county town, within Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The town lies southwest of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie at the mouth of the River Dee, around four miles from the Irish Sea. It is famous for being known as The Artists' Town and is associated with The Glasgow Boys and famed Scottish Colourists such as Samuel Peploe and Francis Cadell who based themselves in the area over a 30 year period from 1880-1910 and established the Kirkcudbright Artists' Colony. Among others who moved here from Glasgow were Edward Hornel, George Henry and Jessie M. King. The composition is looking across the water towards the town at dusk. Boats are in the foreground and the houses and their little lights are beautifully reflected in the waters along with the evening sky. The Impressionist brushwork, impasto and vibrant palette are just superb. This is a wonderful painting of the artists' colony and an excellent example of MacGeorge's work. Signed lower right. |
| Provenance | Private estate. |
| Medium | Oil on Canvas |
| Size | 30 x 23 inches |
| Frame | Housed in a fine Watts gilt frame, 37 inches by 30 inches, in good condition. |
| Condition | Good condition. |
| Biography | William Stewart MacGeorge (1861–1931) was a Scottish artist associated with the Kirkcudbright School. Born in Castle Douglas, lived at 120 King St. He attended the Royal Institution Art School in Edinburgh before studying under Charles Verlat in Antwerp 1884-85. On his return he painted subjects which involved children playing, executed in low tones. After becoming influenced by Edward Atkinson Hornel, who had also studied under Verlat, MacGeorge began using brighter colours and greater impasto. He continued to focus on the usual pastoral features so loved by Impressionists - children at play, fields of flowers, woods, rivers with fishermen, farm labourers, the effect of light and some evening scenes. MacGeorge was also inspired by the ballards of the Borders. Around 1912 he also spent some time painting in Venice. In 1929, two years before his death, MacGeorge married the widow of Hugh Munro, the watercolour artist Mabel Victoria MacGeorge and settling in Gifford in East Lothian where he died aged 70. His widow bequeathed about 45 of his paintings to Haddington Town Council. MacGeorge exhibited at the Paris Salons, winning a bronze medal at the Paris Exposition Universalle of 1900. He became a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1898 and an academician in 1910. He exhibited at the RSA (1881-1932), RGI (1883-1932) and RA (1894-1925). |
| Price | £18000 |
