Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

ART AND ARTISTS.

A FAMOUS PAINTING.

(Adelaide Observer.) It is seldom that so remarkable and beautiful a picture as that of Sir Noel Paton 's now famous painting of " St. Margaret and King Malcolm Cranmore " comes within the ken of untravelled Australians, and it is a production of genius that must live long in the memory of those who have seen it. The great artist painted the picture to the order of the Hon. Alexander Hay, M.L.C., who was a friend of his in early youth, and came from the same place, Dunfermline ; but of tow we will speak further. The work created quite a sensation in England, and »er Majesty the Queen, who inspected it, expressed her high approval of it, and asked gor a photograph for the Royal collection. oome disappointment having been expressed » art circles at the prospect of the painting j not being publicly exhibited, ifc was sent to the Fine Art Society's Galleries in Bond st reet, London. 'fhe scene is laid in a bosky dell in the neighbourhood of Dnnfermline, and the artist selected a spot in which he and Mr Ha .V, when boys, passed many a sportive "our, which gives his work a special interest io t&e owner. Queen Margaret is represented hf-i ?n? n a m °ss-grown rock, with the King " e »We her, and the lovely profile of her fair jyou face, with its wealth of reddish golden o?fw ows clearl y against the dark shadows on i ? ack § round of gnarled oaks, while from uaer her feet stretches a soft carpet of green ™w, forming the foreground. ,~. he graceful young Queen is dressed in a aS «« e Satiny 2° wn > nchly embroidered J°ng the edge with quaint emblematical thi P eculiar to the period, and she has niown from her shoulders a kirfcle of royal IQ e, also embroidered in dark gold, which at lono- - nn ° c a P? ears somewhat garish, but on lit A lns P ection harmonises well in spite of » oeep cerulean hue. The Queen has on M™ c , c a missal » Painted with all the elabosnpl , rtlstic m uniination of the age when hdvT vasdonc b ? skilled monks and emhi, , Stl Mar garet's head rests on the herß? edpa Se, and she is looking up in with , S Stern ' ru^ed, but thoughtful face her nli expression of sof fc earQ est entreaty, the rt , r< : fined feat^es fully carrying out vne reput a t lon she gained for being the

saintly lady who introduced ennobling intellectual influences into Scotland, reclaiming her warrior husband and elevating his character. In this the artist has succeeded to perfection.

The contrast between the regal pair is strikingly effective. Margaret is all feminine dignity, purity, and piety — a lovely, earnest, faithful woman. Her consort is a stalwart, bronzed, muscular warrior king, a grand type of the man of the age when might was right and the great had to hold their own with strong hand. His grand head, covered with strong curling hair, is bent thoughtfully down ; his powerful hand rests upon his muscular weather-tanned knee ; and the brown, brawny fist is in fine contrast with the white, soft, slender, highbred hand of his gentle wife as she clasps her fingers across his hand. The two figures typify manly power and womanly grace. Malcolm has features cast in no common mould. There is the wide kingly brow, the well-defined firm mouth, broad chin, and manly beard of one who is a ruler of men. His garb bespeaks the warrior and the hunter. He has chain mail, rough buskins, laced with leather thongs and topped with the skin of wild cats' heads. His huge cross-handled sword rests across his lap, and at his feet lie his belt with a sheaf of arrows and a hunting knife. Altogether the picture is a fine one and remarkable for the skilful treatment of the whole scene, and the delicate way every detail of the embroidery, the jewellery, and the texture of the dresses is worked out. Margaret has rich jewellery, as becomes a Queen. The artist has evidently exercised the greatest care in getting the correct types of Celtic dress and ornament. By the way, Sir Noel Paton claims to be descended from this regal pair, and it has been a labour of love for him. The background is that part known as the Wooers' Alley in the Royal Glen. The frame is singularly suitable to the picture, being massively wrought in the medieval style by Messrs Doig and MacKechnie, of Edinburgh, from the artist's designs, based on early Celtic monuments and manuscripts. Sir Noel Paton values the painting at £2000.

The artist's subject was suggested by the passage in the contemporary Latin biographer of St. Margaret, one Turgot, a Bishop, who was her confessor, and who wrote her life in the quaint, direct fashion of the times. He says : " By the help of God she instructed her husband in the works of justice, mercy, almsgiving, and other virtues," and truly she looks an irresistible advocate of a good cause. The King was devoted to this fair young Queen of his, and almost worshipped the missal from which she drew her inspiration. The regal pleader has a most lovely face, filled with the light of lofty enthusiasm, and the artist has shown equal skill in the portrayal of the features of both, and in the general conception. In Turgot's interesting work it is shown that Queen Margaret was nobly descended. " Her grandfather," says the quaint old chronicler, '• was that King Edmund who had earned an honourable surname from his matchless valour, for he was staunch in the fight and not to be overcome by his enemies, and therefore he was called in English 'The Ironside.' His brother on the father's side was the most religious and meek Edward, who proved himself a father to his country, which like another Solomon (that is, a lover of peace) he protected rather by peace than arms He was descended from Edgar, King of the English, and Eichard, Count of the Normans." We are also told of Margaret's virtues, her wisdom, prudence, and zeal, and the proofs of the devotion she left ; but the record of her noble and useful life would fill columns. It was owing in a great measure to the virtuous education she gave her sons that Scotland was governed for 200 years by seven excellent kings, her sons and grandsons. This picture of the saintly Queen and her noble husband is of great historical value. Mr A. Adamson, sen., who came from the same town of Dunfermline, has received a letter from an old townsman, who is a wellknown writer upon the county history in Scotland, in which he makes the following interesting comments: — " Our old friend, Mr Hay, will now be fairly settled down after his visit to the fatherland. I remember well his departure for the 'Land of Promise,' and how we small fry envied the great future which appeared before him. Did you hear that the identical ♦ Evangelium ' or " Book of the Four Gospels,' issued by Queen Margaret of Scotland, had recently been discovered ? It is an interesting * find,' and it is now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. I intend taking a pilgrimage to Oxford to see it. There is undoubtedly evidence that it is genuine. I have written upon the subject."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18880210.2.124

Bibliographic details

Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 33

Word Count
1,232

ART AND ARTISTS. Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 33

ART AND ARTISTS. Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 33

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert