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Mrs McDougall of Burke and Hare fame

Holt, Edward P., 1871, Watercolour
Mrs McDougall of Burke and Hare fame
Mrs McDougall of Burke and Hare fame
Mrs McDougall of Burke and Hare fame
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Category
Library Item
Item no
11322
Title
Mrs McDougall of Burke and Hare fame
Description
A portrait of an elderly Edinburgh woman standing and facing to the side. She wears a cloth hat, a white overall and her long skirt is stained.

The poet, Donald Campbell has written a poem inspired by this character by Holt:

Helen MacDougall

Her life is hard, she never knows
when some neighbour will surprise her
by bringing up her former woes
if they should chance to recognise her.
She did no more than follow her dreams
yet it seems they all despise her.

Down the close and up the stair,
wearing another name,
Helen MacDougall, lurking there
shrinks in the shadows of shame!

In court Burke cried out 'Oh, leave her be!
She never knew, is not to blame!'
Artist / maker
Date
1871
Size
22.5 x 11 cm
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG
£5.80(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF
£29.40(inc. VAT 20%)
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