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The Awakening - 1914

Artist: Wishart, Peter, ARSA · 1846-1932

The title reference to 1914 would appear to refer to the outbreak of the First World War that year.

The painting was first exhibited at the SSA Annual Exhibition in 1915 where it was reviewed by the Dundee Courier in its issue of 1915-12-11; "Militarily the note of battle is sounded by Peter Wishart in 'The Awakening - 1914.' It is a vigorous study of the King's Park, Edinburgh, transformed into a military camp, and the sense of stir and the movement of armed men is cleverly conveyed."

The Scotsman went further in its review on 1916-01-11; "Mr Peter Wishart is one of the few artists, stirred by the military activity in and around the city last summer, who has ventured to record his impressions in paint. In his larger work 'The Awakening,' we have a view of the camp in the King's Park, with the Calton for background. If he has been rather free with his white tube, the green setting at least is agreeable, and, viewed from a sufficient distance, the bold brushwork comes not badly together to form a bright and sunny picture."

When the painting was exhibited at the RSA Annual Exhibition of 1928, the Scotsman in its review of the exhibition published in its issue of 1928-04-21, described it as an "invented and half-allegorical landscape with marching troops" singling it out as one of the best landscapes in that year's exhibition.

If the Scotsman was correct therefore the scene depicted was not a specific record of any individual event but rather the artist's impression of what 1914 evoked.

On 1914-04-25 there was a major review of the Territorial Forces in Holyrood Park followed by a military march along Princes Street with Lord Provost Inches taking the salute from a position on the front steps of the RSA.

There was a second review at Holyrood Park scheduled as part of the Royal Visit of King George V and Queen Mary who arrived in the city on 1914-07-06. War was declared on 1914-08-04 and within the month there had been further massing of the Territorial forces on 1914-08-25 as local men rallied to the recruiting call, with the Liverpool Scottish marching through the city on 1914-09-06.

Wishart's work would appear to pull these disparate events together into a single scene.

By placing the action in Holyrood Park the artist evokes the sense of national pride and patriotism and loyalty to the sovereign whose Scottish residence, Holyrood Palace, is prominent at the left. The park served as the training ground of the 9th Royal Scots which was to include F C B Cadell RSA amongst its ranks.

The view north towards Calton Hill is equally considered, with the prominent landmarks of the Nelson Monument and the National Monument which were erected in commemoration of past British naval exploits and the Scottish dead of the Napoleonic Wars. And beyond the Hill lies the expanse of the Firth of Forth with its major British \naval base at Rosyth, and its historic trade links between the port of Leith and the north European seaports.

It is a work which promoted British and Scottish military power and prowess, and is perhaps heightened by the summer sunshine which bathes the scene, and by the proud, calm acceptance of the long-dressed women and more elderly gentlemen who observe the action from the grassy slopes in foreground left.

By the time the RSA Annual exhibition opened on 1928-04-21, Earl Haig had died, on 1928-01-29, and his death may have been a further factor in Wishart exhibiting the work in that year.