William Brodie

Category

Library Item

Item no

13548

Title

Mr Brodie (William Brodie, Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons, Edinburgh)

Description

William Brodie dressed in an elaborate coat and waistcoat and carrying a hat and stick stands next to a table covered in a number of small objects, including keys, cards and dice.

Artist / maker

Kay, John

Date

1788

Size

11 x 17.7 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

William Brodie known as the infamous Deacon Brodie was a member of Edinburgh Society, a cabinet maker, a member of the Town Council, as well as deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons. In contrast to this respectable appearance Brodie was the leader of a gang of burglars. He was eventually caught and hanged at the Tolbooth in Edinburgh. It is widely believed that he is the inspiration for the the Robert Louis Stevenson book 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde'.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Garments > Coats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Waistcoats

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh