Jan
- Thu 23 Feb 2023
- Get the Painters In
- The list of Cape Club members refers to many, generally 'working-class' occupations but we know many were also gifted artists, including poets and painters: the Cape Club had a reputation for attracting those gifted in the arts. Some were pioneers in eking out or, if lucky, making a good living from art (rather than more traditional work of the day such as tailor, baker or merchant). Some of the artistic works created by these Knights of the Muses remain with us. As this Manor unfolds, its canvas will be filled with the works of Cape Club members and we'll extrapolate their relationships as well as muse, ourselves, over how they danced in Capehall.
- Meet outside the Scottish National Gallery on The Mound at 13.00.
- Report
- Martin, Colin, Phil, Steve and a welcome traveller from The Borders, Terry, all met outside the Scottish National Gallery. Helena was absent: a disappointed would-be-attendee who was committed to taking part in her own, regular Thursday art class but had shown a keen interest in seeing more of the work of some Cape Club painters. The Manor began with a look at Raeburn's (Sir Discovery's) most famous work: 'the skating minister', Reverend Robert Walker who was a friend of Raeburn's. Many more works by Raeburn were viewed and one by Nasmyth before Steve set Knights on a crusade; or more accurately, a treasure hunt, looking for a painting which included a small section (provided to Knights by Steve (on small pieces of paper)). There was also a piece of Turtle Feast related art to be found. Phil displayed the greatest initiative, showing his painting snippit to a person working in the gallery who immediately led him to the correct work. He later collected his prize of a decent malt whisky-of-the-month from the Guildford. No one picked up the prize for spotting the large marble font with feet carved in the shape of turtles. On leaving the Scottish National Art Gallery, there was a short stop at the Scott Monument to view the stone-carved face of Fergusson (Sir Precentor) before heading to the old post office building at the east end of Princes Street where Steve talked of the site formerly being occupied by the Theatre Royal and its connections to Tom Lancashire (Sir Cape), Alexander Runciman (Sir Brimstone) and, again, Fergusson. Steve gave a few insights in to the relationships between Cape Club Knights. For example, Raeburn and Nasmyth were friends and for a while lived opposite each other in York Place. Raeburn worked in a luckenbooth at the same time Fergusson was living nearby; Runciman gifted Raeburn an etching of Fergusson which is currently in possession of the British Museum; Runciman, Fergusson, Jacob More (Sir Byre / Sir St Luke?) all did work in Theatre Royal; and Fergusson and Raeburn are both known to have frequented John Dowie's Tavern. On the way to the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), Knights sojourned to The Guildford for light refreshment and paused to take-in the statue of Raeburn on the outside of the NPG, looking over towards his former studio. (Unfortunately, it was largely obscured by building work.) In the National Portrait Gallery, many more of the works of Raeburn, a couple by Nasmyth and a self-portrait of Andrew Runciman (brother of Sir Brimstone) were viewed and a few light Cape-Connections imparted, including the many portraits of Burns by Nasmyth and Burns' well known connection to Fergusson. There was also a small portrait of Runciman to be found in a drawer in the library. Knights spent time enjoying many other works on display in both galleries before Terry took his leave and Steve, Phil, Colin and Martin enjoyed well-deserved refreshment in Mathers at the top of Broughton Street. Thanks to Steve for organising and conducting the Manor which some Knights kindly remarked was very well researched, and to everyone who came to support the effort and the Cape Society; the contemporary Cape Club.
The Cape Society