The cotter's saturday night

Category

Library Item

Item no

17713

Title

The cotter's saturday night

Description

A family sit round the kitchen table waiting eagerly for the dumpling to be laid on the table. The lady carrying the food has a mob cap and apron on. Seated round the table is an elderly lady in a bonnet; a young woman; a man with a beard; and two children. The boy has his spoon in his hand ready and the girl is clapping her hands in delight. They are seated on various wooden chairs. A fireplace can be seen in the background with a candlestick and iron upon it.

Artist / maker

Bryden, Robert

Date

1895

Size

25.4 x 31.5 cm

Type

Wood cut

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

A cotter, or cotters, is the Scots term for a peasant farmer in the Scottish highlands.

This image is an illustration of a poem written by Robert Burns. View the poem The Cotter's Saturday Night.

Robert Burns is Scotland's national poet. He was born on the 25th January 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire. He was the son of a tenant farmer and was brought up working the land, but like many sons of Scottish farmers received a good education. In 1786 he published a volume of his poetry called Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. The book was an immediate success and was the start of his transformation into a national hero. He continued to write poetry and songs until he died on the 21st July 1796 aged just 37. Every year, on the anniversary of his birth, thousands of Scots at home and abroad gather together to celebrate the poet's life and works by holding Burns Suppers.

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Related subjects

Furnishings > Furniture > Chairs

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Agriculture and fisheries > Farmers

People > Children > Boys

People > Children > Girls

People > Entertainment and sports > Poets

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