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Edinburgh, abstract

Artist: Gillies, William George, Sir, CBE RA RSA PPRSW · 1898-1973

Edinburgh, abstract

The scene though abstracted retains recognizable elements. Across the foreground are the heads and shoulders of male and female pedestrians some…

The scene though abstracted retains recognizable elements. Across the foreground are the heads and shoulders of male and female pedestrians some wearing hats. Across the background are stylistic tenement frontages, factory chimneys and a prominent turreted spire with a clock face. The brightly coloured shape in the middle ground which was originally confused for fishing boats when the work was first accessioned is in fact a curved frontage of billboards carrying large advertising posters for drinks.

For a preparatory study vide RSA acc no G.1991.089

© Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture