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Book Jacket Illustration for Seven Men of the Kirk by Beatrice Mair Sawyer, Original Design

Artist: Michie, David Alan Redpath, Professor, OBE RSA RGI FRSA(Scot) · 1928-2015

The design was a commission from the Church of Scotland Youth Committee, for the cover image for a short book of potted biographic essays on seven leading figures of the Scottish Reformed Church [Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, John Knox, George Buchanan, Andrew Melville, Alexander Henderson and William Carstares]. Having completed and submitted the design which features Patrick Hamilton immediately prior to his martyrdom being appealed to repent by a priest. The gaunt appearance of the priest and the “Ave Maria” banner held aloft by protesters at the top right of the image were considered by an unnamed objector, to potentially incite sectarian unrest and Michie was accordingly advised by letter of date 1959-10-20 (RSA Acc 2016.078.5) that his design was to be dropped and the book as published in 1959 appeared with a plain typographic cover instead (RSA Acc 2016.078.6). The objection came after the printer had made a plate from Michie’s drawing and had produced a mock-up of the cover (RSA Acc 2016.078.2). A second amended design (RSA Acc 2016.078.4) suggests that Michie tried to resolve the situation but there is nothing in the archive to suggest this had any effect or indeed was ever submitted. Michie was paid 12 guineas (£12.12/-; approx. £12.60) for the work he had done.

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