James Drummond R.S.A.

Sale: Auktionshaus Arnold, Frankfurt, 21 November 2020, lot 427

Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

James Drummond was born in John Knox's House in Edinburgh on 13 August 1816, the son of an Edinburgh merchant. Whilst studying at the Trustees Academy under David Allan, Drummond became steeped in the archaeology and history of Scotland and became fascinated with subjects which permeated his whole future oeuvre. He educated himself in Scottish heraldry, historic costume and arms which gave his paintings of events from Scottish history and folk-lore a convincing accuracy of detail. The quality of his detailed observation echoes that of John Everett Millais, whose work is often compared with that of Drummond. In 1848 Drummond became a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, later becoming Curator of the Museum. He was also curator of the Scottish National Gallery from 1868 until his death in 1877. Drummond published numerous articles on antiquarian subjects and was an early pioneer of photography. He became one of the most successful painters of historical subjects in Scotland and his paintings can be found in many public art galleries in Scotland and England. There is a remarkable collection of sketches and watercolours of historical details and buildings in the collection of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Significant examples of his work rarely appear at auction, commanding high prices when they do - his unfinished The Return of Mary Queen of Scots to Edinburgh sold for $275,000 (Sotheby’s, New York, 31 January 2018, lot 1) whilst Queen Mary’s Last Look at Scotland made £114,000 (Sotheby’s, Gleneagles Hotel, 30 August 2006, lot 1007).

In a review of the 1862 exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy the critic for Art Journal praised the present picture; 'In historical painting there is comparatively nothing except The Earliest Congregation of Scottish Reformers by James Drummond, R.S.A., a picture remarkable for honest study and the faithful development of thought.'