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Notes
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John Bellany is an internationally respected artist whose dark symbolism and expressionist techniques communicate his desire to create art relevant and moving to ordinary people. He was born in the fishing village of Port Seton and studied at Edinburgh College of Art. While at Edinburgh he won an Andrew Grant Scholarship taking him to Paris where he particularly admired Gustav Courbet’s paintings for their socialist undertones and began to reject the ‘belle peinture’ of the Edinburgh School. His early work was based on the fishing lifestyle of Port Seton but gradually became more symbolic, linking his own experiences to themes of religion or mythology. Bellany and Alexander Moffat adopted a ‘manifesto-position’ on figurative painting, choosing to work against what they saw as the lack of humanity in modern art.
‘Scottish Mother and Child’ was a gift from Bellany to the medical professionals in Glasgow who cared for him after he suffered a heart attack. It was thought the most appropriate place for the painting was in the College. It is recognisable as a Bellany through its bright colours, typical fishing village subject and most importantly, its use of symbolism, with a fish looming over the woman’s head, suggesting a dark undertone to the painting.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Title
Scottish Mother and Child
Date
2005
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 119 x W 90 cm
Accession number
0381
Acquisition method
donated, 2005
Work type
Painting
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
232–242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5RJ Scotland
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