This exhibition brings together watercolour paintings by the amateur artist, James Steuart, dated between c1885 and 1936. The paintings range from street scenes to landscape views overlooking the city. Some give a window into a more pastoral pace of life on the outskirts. Many are from the 1920s giving us a wonderful perspective of Edinburgh around a century ago.
James Steuart was born on 7 September 1860 in Edinburgh. According to his own book, 'Sketching Ways and Sketching Days', he had "the fortune to be born and to have lived most of my long life in Edinburgh…”
James Steuart exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours. He is also the author of the books, ‘Sketching in Watercolours’ and ‘Sketching Ways and Sketching Days’.
In ‘Sketching in Water-Colours, A book for amateurs by an amateur’ we’re told that the author had “sketched since he was a boy with little professional teaching”.
‘Sketching Ways and Sketching Days’ provides further autobiographical detail. Steuart worked as a Writer to the Signet, or solicitor and although, following the family business, “naturally absorbed the most of my busy life” he enjoyed escaping to Edinburgh’s best vantage points to spend time capturing the scene with his watercolours.
Explore Edinburgh through Steuart’s appreciative, artistic eye:
“when one had spent the week at the desk, one was wont, when opportunity occurred to escape to the surrounding district [of Edinburgh] – and what a wealth of pictures that district affords.”
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries