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"At Barncluith Sketch from Nature, May 4th 1863"

Artist: Fraser (jnr), Alexander, RSA · 1828-1899

"At Barncluith Sketch from Nature, May 4th 1863"

Fraser exhibited two similarly titled works at the RSA, in 1865 "Barncluith on the Avon" and in 1867 " In Barncluith". There is an oil painting…

Fraser exhibited two similarly titled works at the RSA, in 1865 "Barncluith on the Avon" and in 1867 " In Barncluith".

There is an oil painting which is almost identical to the Diploma Work only slightly smaller (33.0 x 51.0 cm) in the collection of Allan G. Murray entitled 'Queen Mary's Well, Barncluith'. This painting is reproduced in colour on page (?) of the exhibition catalogue 'The Hong Kong Club Hang' (Bourne Fine Art, 2005). The painting is signed but is not dated. Photocopy of relevant sections of catalogue in Fraser's file.

A third version was bequeathed to Dundee Art Galleries and Museum by A Maitland (22-1953), it too is oil on canvas but smaller, measuring 31.5 x 37.5cm (vide ArtUK; https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/barncluith-well-104603/search/makers:alexander-fraser-18271899/page/2/view_as/grid)

In a letter from Fraser to the Dundee collector George B. Simpson (National Library of Scotland, MS 6349, fos 79-206) dated 21 March 1863 he refers to a painting which he exhibited at the RSA in 1863 'Haymaking on the Avon' 'I think it my best tho unfinished in the sky & c and its badly hung. I am strongly urged to give it to the Academy for my Diploma picture. Ive had some good nibble at it but somehow not a sufficient offer for it yet, and rather than take very much less than my price will give it to the Academy..' This painting was purchased from the 1863 exhibition by James Campbell of Tullichewan and is now in the collection of the National Gallery of Scotland (NG 180). There is a transcript of this correspondence made by Helen Smailes of the NGS in the RSA archives (stored with the George B. Simpson special collection).

Fraser exhibited two similarly titled works at the RSA, in 1865 "Barncluith on the Avon" and in 1867 " In Barncluith," neither of which is, obviously, the present work.

An earlier oil by Sam Bough RSA, dated 1854, and showing a near identical view was sold at Christies, London, on 2009-02-25, lot 837.