Collections

The Trespasser Punished

Artist: Steell, Gourlay, RSA · 1819-1894

This was the last LIFETIME exhibit by Steell at the RSA AX at which he had shown in 1832(aged 13), then every year (bar 1837) from 1835-94. His last exhibit “Lochaber no More” was submitted by him to the 1894 RSA unfinished and hung – but the 1894 exhib opened on 17 Feb and he passed on 31 January that year.

It looks a little “tired” in its execution when compared to some of his earlier works which are “crisper” in detail, but is nonetheless a good characteristic late work – and it was his highland cattle works that secured him the role of Animallier to HM Queen Victoria for 22 years, and the animal whose depictions of he most frequently graced the walls of the Academy’s annual exhibitions with.

Subject matter wise it perhaps has parallels with the following (distressed) oil in Glasgow Mus colls;

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/a-challenge-86133/view_as/grid/search/makers:gourlay-steel-18191894/page/1

It is possible that it was sold from the AX in which case the Sales Register will provide details of its original owner and the price paid. There was a studio sale of Steell's work in February 1895 at Dowell’s where it would have probably appeared if it remained unsold at the AX – however its not listed in the newspaper coverage of the top prices realised from that sale.