Studio RT Ltd

Description

NB Please note that due to the very fine, smooth nature of the canvas and its relatively dark colouring, we have been unable to photograph the painting lighter without a reflection of the photographer and a lessening in definition. We have therefore used the sharper but darker photos and suggest that viewers lighten their browsers a little to view the painting in better detail. The most accurate colouring is in the first picture in the frame, which is only a little darker than reality.

We are pleased to offer this accomplished portrait oil on canvas by the Scottish artist ALLAN RAMSAY, who has signed the painting in the lower left hand corner and dated it 1894. He has also inscribed the canvas verso with the following: 'Painted by Allan Ramsay 1894 for Agnes Dunbar, Edzell' Edzell is a village near Brechin in Angus. Agnes Dunbar is wearing what we presume are referred to a 'widow's weeds', as she is wearing a black dress, with a blue high necked blouse underneath, with a gold cross brooch at the throat and a black bonnet with possibly a beaded top section, over her greying hair. The word 'weed' comes from the old English word 'waed' meaning garment.

ALLAN RAMSAY, 1852-1912 (although according to Christie's it is 1920 however we have seen his obituary in several newspapers and it was definitely 1912), was a Victorian Scottish painter of landscapes and portraits in oils, who lived in Edzell for the last 25 years of his life. He painted many landscapes around Edzell, which was a rich source of beautiful views. He was born in Dundee on the 9th October 1852. He married Margaret E. Belford in 1887 in Edzell and they took an active part in the life of the village, where he lived and had his studio. In the Census of 1891 he was living in High Street, Edzell and was listed as a Landscape and Portrait painter. By the 1901 Census, they had moved to Blythwood Villa, Dalhousie Street, Edzell, where he sadly died the day before his 60th birthday, 8th October 1912, suddenly after a two week illness, not thought to be serious.

Agnes Dunbar (1825-1895) was also a native of Edzell and must have been known to Allan Ramsey before he painted her portrait. She was born in 1825 and on 28th, June 1850 married William Dunbar, a Master Tailor and Clothier who employed 1 man. They had four children and lived in High Street Edzell. But tragedy struck on 19th August 1860, when William died at the age of 42, leaving Agnes with four children to support, with the youngest only 2 years old. In the 1861 Census she was listed as a House Proprietor, which was about the only occupation left to a widow with children, but by 1871 Agnes was listed as a Nurse, as was her youngest daughter Agnes, although only 13, and her son William was an Apprentice Tailor. Her eldest married daughter Elizabeth Moire and her son James were also with her on the day of the Census. In 1881 She was at the home of her married daughter Margaret in Midlothian and was listed as a Seamstress and in 1891, was visiting her two older sisters in Edzell and listed as a Retired Seamstress. She died in 1895 aged 70, the year after she sat for the portrait.

According to the Dictionary of Scottish Painters by Harris & Halsby, Allan Ramsay was a landscape and portrait painter and flourished from 1884-1920. (Incorrect) Other than this, The Dictionary of British Artists lists him as a portrait painter, with an address in Dundee and gives him a separate listing living in Edgell (sic). He exhibited 19 paintings at the Royal Scottish Academy between 1880 and 1900 and 4 at the Glasgow Institution, as well as other provincial exhibitions in Scotland.

Auction prices achieved for his paintings can be found at artprice.com (58 listings), findartinfo.com (19) and arcadja.com (33), although some of the portraits are by the 18th Century Allan Ramsay. There are 9 of his paintings in the National Collection, 3 of which are portraits, which can be viewed at ArtUK.org, but putting his name into google.

The painting is newly framed in a 4 3/4" ornate bronzed gilt frame. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 19 1/4"" x 14 1/4" - 48.9cm x 38.7cm

Frame size: 29 3/8" x 25 1/2" - 74.6cm x 65cm

Medium: Oils on canvas.

Condition: Very good. The canvas is clean and taut with only two small repairs which are not visible to the front. There is no craquelure or paint loss. The frame is new