Walter Geikie was one of the most remarkable artists working in Edinburgh in the early 19th century, but his talent and contribution is often overlooked.
The son of a pharmacist, Geikie was born in Charles Street, Edinburgh in 1795. His life took a dramatic turn during infancy: before his second birthday he contracted a serious fever that resulted in permanent hearing loss. The young Geikie grew up unable to hear or speak, but his father worked tirelessly on his education, teaching him to communicate, read and write.
Geikie's artistic ambitions also emerged in childhood, perhaps as a necessary means of self-expression. According to his biographer Thomas Dick Lauder, he began drawing figures on the ground and walls before he was given his first sketchbook. Again, his family encouraged him, and in 1812 he was admitted to the Trustees' Academy of Edinburgh.
At the Trustees' Academy Geikie became a pupil of John Graham, who had previously taught the acclaimed portraitist and genre painter David Wilkie. He also received tutorage from the landscape artist Andrew Wilson. This period of formal training was an invaluable source of inspiration and professional contacts. Geikie first exhibited at the Edinburgh Exhibition Society in 1815, and by 1821 he was showing his artworks regularly.
Although Geikie was undoubtedly influenced by contemporary Scottish painters and 17th century Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Adriaen van Ostade, he possessed his own artistic vision. From the outset of his career he demonstrated acute observational skills, and focused on the portrayal of Edinburgh's poor and working classes. His genre studies of the city's population are honest, witty and full of empathy. At a time when depictions of ordinary people tended to veer towards either lofty moralising or grotesque caricature, Geikie managed to maintain the role of casual observer. His imagery records everyday life in 19th century Scotland, from the revelry of fairground crowds to the quiet dignity of agricultural labour.
Geikie had a strong eye for detail, and his choice of media reflected this. Drawing with pencil or ink allowed him to capture fleeting facial expressions and swift gestures. He began printmaking in the mid 1820s, exploring the depth of detail he could achieve with etching techniques. Today Geikie is best known for his etchings, following the publication of over 80 prints in the 1841 volume Etchings Illustrative of Scottish Character and Scenery. However, Geikie was also a painter, and his work in oils adds another dimension to our understanding of him.
According to Geikie's brother, the artist left over 1100 original sketches when he died in 1837, aged only 41. He was a prolific talent, and while his habit of leaving works undated makes it difficult to trace his development, his productivity was clearly not hindered by his disabilities. Geikie flourished as an active member of the artistic community in Edinburgh, and his contribution was recognised with his election to the Scottish Academy in 1834.
In modern times Geikie has received little acknowledgement as a serious artist. This exhibition highlights his achievements, exploring his mastery of expression and character.
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries