Collections

Landscape - Evening

Artist: McCulloch, Horatio, RSA · 1805-1867

Landscape - Evening

There is a second version of this painting held in a private collection which is oil on panel of identical dimensions and near identical composition…

There is a second version of this painting held in a private collection which is oil on panel of identical dimensions and near identical composition and subject matter. The version in private hands is looser in handling, with the sky area in particular much sketchier. There are also significant differences in the compositional detail which leads one to suppose that the private collection work may be a "plein air" sketch for that in the RSA Collections. Specifically the trees at foreground right are more detailed in the treatment of the branches and the presence of more foliage in the foreground suggest that these are "Claudian" devices aimed at assisting the viewers' eye across the panel. There is also a subtle re positioning of the summit of the stone dyke with the ruined tower on the distant hill and a clearer delineation of the mid and back grounds. For details of this work vide hardcopy in McCulloch artist's file and on the I drive on Collection curator's computer.

The sale catalogue for the 'Very Valuable Collection of Pictures and Engravings and Other Art Property, which belonged to the Late James Carnegie WS,' sold By Dowell, 18 George Street on 23 and 24 November 1883, has as lot 257; "HORATIO McCULLOCH/ SUNSET - the Finished Study for his Diploma Picture, 13 1/2 x 10 [inches]." It was sold for 15 guineas. This is a considerably smaller version than the painting referenced above which measures 127.3 x 192.0cm.