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Shannan, Archibald McFarlane, ARSA

1850 – 1915

RSA Cuttings Book 1894-1903; The Scotsman, 1902-03-20; "ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY ELECTIONS.....The voting for a sculptor Associate was a s follows; First Vote - A McFarlane Shannon [sic], Glasgow, 20; Kellock Brown, Glasgow, 11; W Hubert Paton, 10. Second Round; Shannon, 27; Paton, 12; Brown, 8. Final vote - Shannon, 19; Paton, 14." RSA Cuttings Book 1895-1902; uncited newspaper (with line drawing of the new ARSA's); "Mr A Macfarlane Shannon [sic] is of Glasgow nativity, where he was also educated. He studied art in London and Paris, and sojourned for a time in Italy, returning to Glasgow about nine years ago. His principal ideal groupes are 'The Arcadian Shepherd's Dream,' 'Early Jealousies,' and 'The Music of the MARSHES.' his portrait busts include Lord kelvin; Mr Philip Bandaines, Constable of St Heliers, Jersey, and several of the leading citizens of Glasgow and Paisley. He has assisted with the sculpture decorations of the Fine Art Galleries, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, and Govan Municipal Buildings and Town Hall." RSA Annual Report, 1915, Obituary; "Your Council regret to have to record the death of an Associate, Mr Archibald Macfarlane Shannan. Archibald Macfarlane Shannan was born in Glasgow on 28th May 1850. On completing his education at the University of his native city, he entered into his father's business, that of a builder, and after superintending the building of sanatoria in the Cameroons, West Africa, had charge of the erection of State buildings in Texas, USA. On his return tot his country, after some preliminary training at South Kensington, he proceeded to Paris, where, fro eight or nine years, he attended the schools of Painting, Sculpture, and Anatomy. During those years he exhibited at the Salon on several occasions, and more than once his work attracted the attention of the French Government. Returning to Glasgow in 1892, he made the sculptural department of Art his profession. His inclinations were towards the imaginative side of the Art, but like many others in these northern lands who have cherished like ideals, he found but scant encouragement, and during the twenty-three years he worked in the great industrial city of the West, his practice was chiefly in the direction of portraiture. Of public work executed by Mr Shannan may be mentioned the bronze statue of Mrs John Elder in the Elder Park, Govan; that of Lord Kelvin, in the Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow; the memorials of the Poet Robert Pollock, of the Galloway Bard, William Nicholson, at Newton Mearns and Kirkcudbright respectively; and the full-length of Barbour for the facade of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Besides these Mr Shannan executed busts in marble or in bronze of many notable men associated with municipal, scientific or learned bodies throughout the kingdom. His imaginative work, produced, as has been said, mostly during his student years, was of an idyllic type, as may be gathered from such titles as 'The Hunter and the Wood Nymph' and 'The Arcadian Shepherd's Dream.' Mar Shannan was elected Associate in 1902. Sometime ago he met with an accident, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He died at his residence in Glasgow on 28th September." RSA Cuttings Book 1903-19; The Glasgow Herald, Wednesday 29th September 1915; "Death of a Glasgow Sculptor : Mr A McFarlane Shannan, ARSA; We regret to announce the death of mr Archibald McFarlane Shannan ARSA, which took place yesterday at this residence, 36 Buccleuch Street, Glasgow. Lately he had not been in robust health. About two years ago Mr Shannan had the misfortune to be run down by a cyclist, and he never completely recovered from the effects of the accident. He was a son of the late Mr Peter Shannan, builder, a former Deacon of the Incorporation of Masons. Mr Shannan was a man of varied experience. Educated at Glasgow High School and the University, her began business as a builder under his father. For a number of years he was engaged in work of this kind in England, and also in Africa and America. He was of an artistic temperament, and ultimately he abandoned his original calling to follow art. Several years were devoted to the study of sculpture under the best masters in Paris, and in pursuit of his art he visited other Continental cities. The department of sculpture which mostly claimed his attention was statuary, and his work elicited the favourable comments of art critics in London and elsewhere, and won recognition for him in other directions. In 1902 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy. He had an extensive clientele, and executed many important private commissions. He also carried out several important works of a public character. Among the best known of these are the statue of Mrs Elder in the Elder Park, Govan; The Dunn Memorial Fountain, Paisley; and the statue of Lord Kelvin, unveiled in 1913, in Kelvingrove Park. It is interesting to recall in this connection that during the lifetime of Lord Kelvin Mr Shannan produced a bust of him in bronze which is recognised as a representative example of his art. Mr Shannan was a member of the Glasgowe Art Club and of the Society of British Sculptors, and took a deep interest in matters pertaining to art in the city. he is represented in the present exhibition of the Royal Glasgow Institute by two examples of his work. He is survived by Mrs Shannan, who is an accomplished painter in oils, and on several occasions has exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts."



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