Rev. John Thomson of Duddingston. 'View in the Isle of Arran,' Scottish, early 19th century.

On the left, a deep, brown eminence with two trees at the summit; further off, on the right, a tree-clad slope. Below, sheep grazing, and in the foreground, two gulls, apparently over a lake. The tones of the sketch are yellow, brown and dark olive.

Acquisition method unknown; formerly in the Department of Circulation

In this oil sketch on paper, Thomson evokes the main features of the landscape in broad, rapid brushstrokes. He may have painted it after 1831 as there is no evidence of a visit made by the artist to the Isle of Arran before that date.

Thomson painted many such sketches from nature of his native Scotland and was known to work quickly, often completing a sketch in a matter of hours. He was interested in the power of association with Scotland’s literary and historic past, and his expressive, vigorous style evoked the mood of a landscape as opposed to its topographical features. His small sketches in particular, have been much praised in this regard.

Thomson was a successful, Scottish landscapist who was also minister of Duddingston from 1805. He was influenced by the Old Masters, including Claude Lorrain (c.1604-82), but also produced works of real originality, such as his small oil sketches. He was a close friend of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), who was another influence on his work, and collaborated with J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) to produce illustrations, which were later engraved, for Scott’s Provincial Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland (1826).

In this small sketch on paper, Thomson evokes the bare essentials of the landscape in small, rapid brush strokes. He was known to paint many such sketches from nature, often completing them in a matter of hours, and they have been praised for their originality. Thomson was a successful, Scottish landscapist who was also minister for Duddingston from 1805. He was a close friend of the writer Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), who was an important influence on his work, and collaborated with J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) to produce illustrations for Scott’s Provincial Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland (1826).

P.42-1937