James Guthrie (artist)

Sir James Guthrie PPRSA (10 June 1859 – 6 September 1930) was a Scottish painter, associated with the Glasgow Boys. He is best known in his own lifetime for his portraiture, although today more generally regarded as a painter of Scottish Realism.

James Guthrie
A Hind's Daughter by Sir James Guthrie 1883, Scottish National Gallery
To Pastures New (1883), painted when Guthrie was only 23 years old. Art critic Brian Sewell wrote of the picture, "Of its kind it is a masterpiece...".[1]

Early life and education
Statesmen of World War I, 1930, National Portrait Gallery, London

Guthrie was born in Greenock, the youngest son of the Rev. John Guthrie, a minister of the Evangelical Union church,[2] and Anne Orr. He originally enrolled at Glasgow University to study law, but in 1877 abandoned this in favour of painting. Unlike many of his contemporaries he did not study in Paris, being mostly self-taught, although he was mentored for a short time by James Drummond in Glasgow and then John Pettie in London.[3] In 1879, he moved to London to study painting. during the summer he painted at rural locations, often Rosneath and Helensburgh but mostly at Cockburnspath.[4] Guthrie spent some time with his friend Edward Arthur Walton living in Cheyne Walk in Chelsea[5]

Career

Guthrie lived most of his life in the Scottish Borders, since 1883 in Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, where he painted some of his most important works, including A Hind's Daughter (1883), and Schoolmates (1884).[6] He was strongly influenced by the French Realists, especially Jules Bastien-Lepage, and was associated with the Glasgow Boys.[3]

In 1888, he was elected an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy , and a full member in 1892. In November 1902 he was unanimously elected to succeed Sir George Reid as RSA president,[7] and he moved with his family from Glasgow to Edinburgh.[4] In 1903, he was knighted. A member of Glasgow Art Club Guthrie exhibited often at the club's annual exhibitions.[8][9]

In 1919, Guthrie was commissioned by South African financier Sir Abraham Bailey, 1st Baronet to paint a group portrait of 17 politicians and statesmen of Britain and its allies who held office during the First World War. The painting, Statesmen of World War I, was completed in 1930, shortly before Guthrie's death. The painting was donated to the National Portrait Gallery, London. Guthrie's 17 preparatory oil studies were donated to Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

In 1920, the King of Belgium conferred Guthrie with the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Crown.[3][10]

In 1921, he joined the newly-formed Society of Graphic Art, and exhibited with them in 1921.

Personal life and death

In the late 1880s Guthrie met Helen Newton Whitelaw, a wealthy widow at her family home, Rowmore, in Rhu, Dunbartonshire. They married in 1897 and in 1899 their son Thomas Whitelaw Boyd Guthrie was born in Chelsea, London. On October 20, 1912 she died of cancer at the age of 52.[4]

Guthrie died in the house of his retiral in 1930.[3] His grave in Rhu was designed by the architect Alexander Nisbet Paterson.[4]

Work
Earl Haig by James Guthrie 1923.

By 1885, Guthrie was a reputable portrait painter and in later life he virtually abandoned other subjects. He was commissioned by many of the rich and famous of his day to paint their portraits. The list is quite impressive:

References
  1. Brian Sewell. The Cabbage Patch Kids" (London Evening Standard, 18 Nov 2010).
  2. "GUTHRIE, Sir James". Who's Who. Vol. 59. 1907. p. 748.
  3. Biography ("Helensburgh heroes")
  4. Donald Fullarton (14 August 2012). "Leader of the Glasgow Boys". Helensburgh Heritage Trust. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  5. "Settlement and building: Artists and Chelsea Pages 102-106 A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 12, Chelsea". British History Online. Victoria County History, 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. "Schoolmates". MSK Gent. nd. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  7. "The Royal Scottish Academy". The Times. No. 36924. London. 13 November 1902. p. 10.
  8. Glasgow Herald article 4 December 1909 ‘’The Glasgow Art Club – Interesting Exhibition’’. Retrieved 2011-08-17
  9. Glasgow Herald article 9 April 1935 ‘’Glasgow Art Club – Memorial Exhibition Opened’’. Retrieved 2011-08-17
  10. "No. 32095". The London Gazette. 22 October 1920. p. 10197.

Further reading
  • Walker, A. Stodhart. Sir James Guthrie FRSA, Studio International, Vol. 54, (London, Cory, Adams & Mackay etc. 1893) pp. 18–26.
  • Martin, David. The Glasgow School of Painting (P. Harris, 1976) p. 18 ff.
  • Billcliffe, Roger. The Glasgow Boys (Frances Lincoln ltd, 2008).
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