Rattray, Alexander Wellwood, ARSA (res)
1849 – 1902
The eldest son of Reverend Alexander Rattray and his wife Maria Anne Boswell or Rattray, Wellwood Rattray was born in St Andrews but moved to Glasgow when his father took the charge of Parkhead Parish. He was educated at the Glasgow Academy and University before enrolling at Glasgow School of Art in 1865 under Robert Greenlees. After leaving art school he spent some time in Paris where he studied under D'Amoye and D'Aubigny. He travelled on the Continent visiting many art galleries to expand his knowledge of the Fine Arts. Having first exhibited at the RSA AX in 1876 he was elected an Associate Member at the Assembly on 1896-03-18 alongside James Paterson, R Payton Reid and R Thorburn Ross. The following year Rattray found himself at the centre of an unfortunate incident when, on discovering through the imprint of a letter on a sheet of blotting paper, that his wife had been committing adultery with Robert Derby Anderson, a family friend of many years standing and after whom one of Rattray’s sons had been named, Rattray went to the local Post Office where the letter had been posted and asked the Post Mistress to retrieve it so he could see it with his own eyes. He may have been vindicated then, but he chose to take the letter (he claimed with the Post Mistress’ approval) and in doing so committed a crime for which he was taken to court, found guilty, and forced to spend several days in prison. The case was widely reported in the press and on coming to the attention of the Academy was heavily debated before Rattray was forced to resign. RSA Archives contains material relative to this incident. He exhibited widely in Scotland and received honourable mentions for his two exhibits at the Paris International Exhibition in 1889. His work was recognised for being fresh and ably capturing the effect of light and of the seasons. His death certificate gives him as Alexander Wellwood Rattray ARSA RSW, landscape painter, married to (1) Charlotte Bannatyne; (2) Jemima Douglas (against whom he obtained a Decree of Divorce); (3) Annie Weir D[....]. His death was registered by his son-in-law Charles M McDonald.
