Stevenson, James, RSA
1780 – 1844
There was no obituary to Stevenson in the RSA Annual Report for 1844. Peter J M McEwan's Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture, 2nd rev ed 2004, Glengarden Press, 2004, pp.537-538 gives the following; "c.1785-1844. Edinburgh painter in oil and watercolour; landscapes and seascapes. Painted landscape in the Lothians, Dumfries-shire and occassionally in Wales, but most especially in Perthshire; also seascapes of the south east coast of Scotland. Foundation Academician and one of the most neglected. His Diploma work was "Edinburgh, from the Old Pier, Kinghorn" 1831. Landscapes around Newhall House were engraved for Robert Burns' The Gentle Shepherd with Illustrations of the Scenery (1808). Moved from 68 to 74 George Street, 1842. ExhibitedRSA (111) 1808-44 yet is not mentioned in any of the early histories. Bibl. Butchart 36, Halsby 51." He is not (as at 2015-05-27) featured on the BBC Your Paintings website but could RSA 2008.056 possibly be a work by him? It bears some comparison with a watercolour of Linlithgow Palace, (Bonhams, Edinburgh, 2002-08-22, lot 1112) one of 3 works listed by or attributed to him on the Blouin Art Sales Lot Finder website and the only one illustrated. Interestingly another was a watercolour of 1806 of River North Esk at Habbie's Howe (Bonhams, London, 1998-03-18, lot 67). The Checklist of British Artists in the Witt Library, Courtauld Institute of Art, 1991, records its holding 1 small file on him. He was responsible for the 'illustrations of the scenary [sic]' for the 2 volume issue of Allan Ramsay's The Gentle shepherd, printed by Abernethy & Walker, Edinburgh, for William Martin, William Creech, Alexander Constable & Co, Peter Hill and A mackay, Edinburgh, and for Vernor Hood & Sharp, Cuthell & Martoin, and John Murray, London, in 1808. Stevenson was elected an Academician of the Scottish Academy in 1826.
