The Parliament Close

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

20730

Title

The Parliament Close and Public Characters of Edinburgh

Description

A unique record of the leading politicians, professionals and members of society in the late 1700s.The recognisable individuals, who are listed in a key, stand in front of St Giles cathedral on the Royal Mile. The small trading booths are no longer standing today but the statue of Charles II can still be seen outside St Giles.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1794

Size

59.0 x 91.1cm

Type

Oil painting

Location

City Art Centre

Accession number

HH1174/1948

Edinburgh in the late 18th Century was described as a 'hotbed of genius'. In philosophy, science, art, architecture and literature, the city was at the centre of the Golden Age of cultural achievement, known as the Scottish Enlightenment.

The frame of the painting, which was added long after the painting was completed, states it is the joint production of Sir David Wilkie, Alexander Nasmyth, David Roberts and Clarkson Stanfield. However, there is uncertainty over both the artist(s) and the date. In an article entitled, “The Mystery of the Artists”, John Chalmers makes a compelling argument that the painting was a collaboration between John Kay and David Allan and should be dated around 1794. He argues that it is unlikely the painting was produced much later as the scene contains a wealth of detail which had disappeared by the early years of the nineteenth century, including the Goldsmith Hall on the left which burnt down in 1796. Both Allan and Kay were practising artists around this time and most convincing, the painting contains character depictions in the foreground very similar to others known to be by either Allan or Kay.

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Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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