The Messenger of Evil Tidings
Artist: Douglas, William Fettes, Sir, PPRSA RSA · 1822-1891
An article on Fettes Douglas in the 1906 Art Journal states the following about the painting 'His/ diploma picture titled 'A Messenger of Evil Tidings'/ shows that some serious alteration had been made on the/ composition of the picture; originally a young girl stood/ beside the recipient of the bad news, but that figure was/ painted out; still, the mark of her presence can be seen on a/ careful examination of the canvas. Being bound up in/ antiquarian subjects....he utilised his grand collections/ for such purpose." The RSA holds a copy of 'Catalogue of the Valuable Library in Antiquarian, Art and Scottish Literature of the Late Sir William Fettes Douglas' (1891) and the various historical books, treatises and antiquarian objects that the artist owned could well have informed the incident and details in this painting.
Additional details
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Object data
Date 1856 Accession 1999.057 Materials Support canvas Dimensions Sight
87.6cm x 112.3cm
Frame
115cm x 141cmMedium Paint, oil -
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