About this artwork
Although spending time in both the regular army and militia, Francis Grose is best known as an antiquarian, compiling a number of volumes on the subject. He met the poet Robert Burns in 1789, who suggested that Grose include Allloway Kirk in his Scottish Antiquities. Grose agreed, on the condition that Burns provide a witchcraft story to go with the drawing. This story later developed into the famous Scots poem, Tam O’Shanter.
Updated before 2020
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artist:
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title:Captain Francis Grose, 1731 - 1791. Antiquary
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date created:Unknown
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after:
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materials:Etching on paper
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measurements:11.43 x 7.62 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Bequeathed by William Finlay Watson 1886
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accession number:SP IV 70.3
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John Kay
John Kay
John Kay was a portrait etcher and miniature painter who was born near Dalkeith. Self-taught, he originally started working as a barber in Edinburgh but devoted his spare time to art. In 1785 he left the barber’s trade for caricature portraiture. He made nearly 900 plates of almost every notable...