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The Departure

Artist: Maclean, Will, Professor, MBE RSA RSW RGI · b. 1941Printer: Peacock PrintmakersPrintmaker, master collaborative: Watson, Arthur, PPRSA RSA · b. 1951

The Departure

The present work was printed at Peacock Printmakers in Aberdeen. It is based on an aquatint of 1820, "Pier at Tanera, Loch Broom" by the English…

The present work was printed at Peacock Printmakers in Aberdeen.

It is based on an aquatint of 1820, "Pier at Tanera, Loch Broom" by the English artist-traveller William Daniell, being one of the 308 views he made for his ambitious 8-volume publication "A Voyage Round the Coast of Great Britain" which he commenced in 1813 and completed in 1825.

The scene depicted held special resonance for Maclean whose forebears came from this area.

Maclean adapted the Daniel image over a series of four prints each with a different overall colour scheme, to tell the story of the Highland clearances.

In this the fourth and final print in the series much of the view is blocked out by the foreground deck and bulwark of a sailing ship on the deck of which stands an old man wearing a dark suit, flat bunnet and with a plaid around his shoulders, who stands looking morosely across to the distant hills of the mainland.

This set of prints formed Maclean's contribution to the "Voyage Round the Coast of Scotland" project initiated by Peacock Printmakers whereby contemporary artists were invited to make a contemporary work in response to Daniel's pioneering work.

The RSA Collections holds a facsimile copy of the Daniell print which inspired Maclean.

The work is part of one of many projects involving Scottish artists working in collaboration with Peacock