About this artwork
Sir Walter Scott was a renowned poet and novelist who achieved major success during his lifetime. His interest in writing historical novels, and particularly those with Scottish themes such as ‘Waverley’, has had a major influence on the perception of Scotland. Scott famously organised King George IV’s 1822 visit to Edinburgh which helped to re-brand Scotland’s image and led to a revival of tartan and kilts. This work was painted at Abbotsford, Scott’s home in the borders, for Lady Ruthven (1789-1895). It depicts him the year before his death. Following a number of strokes, Scott appears distinctly older and more fatigued than in earlier portraits. Seated in his study, he is almost certainly writing the fourth series of ‘Tales of my Landlord’.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Sir Francis Grant (1803 - 1878) Scottish
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title:Sir Walter Scott, 1771 - 1832. Novelist and poet
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date created:1831
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:76.20 x 64.00 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Bequeathed by Mary Hamilton Campbell, Lady Ruthven 1885
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accession number:PG 103
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
Sir Francis Grant
Sir Francis Grant
By the time he was 26 years old, Francis Grant had spent his father’s inheritance of £10,000 on fox hunting and collecting paintings, and was in desperate need of a career. He decided to become an artist, and, despite having no formal training, he made rapid progress by copying old masterpieces...