The Glasgow Boys - January talk

 Dr Keith Parsons was very kindly able to step in at the last moment when the scheduled speaker could not give the talk. Keith gave an illustrated talk about The Glasgow Boys  a group of a radical young painters who represent the beginnings of modernism in Scottish painting. In the early 1880s, disillusioned with academic painting, they painted contemporary rural subjects often working outdoors. Strong influences include French and Dutch painters including Jules Bastien-Lepage 1848-1884 and American painter James McNeill Whistler 1834-1903.

In the 1880s, Glasgow was a very successful shipbuilding city with two art institutions, the Glasgow School of Art and the Institute of Fine Arts, a perfect place for a new art movement to emerge with all important patrons like William Burrell 1861-1958 and art dealer Alex Reid playing their part in buying and displaying artworks artists. 

Notable artists from this time included Sir James Guthrie 1859-1930 whose two paintings seen below are hauntingly memorable and beautiful

Above 'In the Orchard' and below 'A Hind's Daughter'

and below, another painting by Sir James Guthrie 'To Pastures New' below

Above 'A Cabbage Garden' by Arthur Melville 1855-1904 and below 'The White Drake' by Arthur Melville 1855-1904

In these few examples of works by the Glasgow Boys, subjects seem to be white fowl, cabbages and an orchard.

Where to see works from the Glasgow Boys:

William Burrell patron and art collector, amassed a collection of over 8000 artworks which he gave to Glasgow in 1944, known as the Burrell Collection, it is now housed in a specially designed building in Pollok National Park in Glasgow. There's also Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to visit. Plus the Fleming Collection which loans works from its 600 pieces. The Scottish National Gallery is situated in Edinburgh.

I can imagine questions about The Glasgow Girls, and yes there were women artists at the turn of the last century with distinctive styles. Well worth investigating another time. I think we have enough galleries to visit in Glasgow to make it a must see destination. Thank you once again Dr Keith Parsons for this fascinating talk.