James Guthrie (artist)

Sir James Guthrie PPRSA (10 June 1859 – 6 September 1930) was a Scottish painter, 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]

Life and work
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 abandoned this in favour of painting in 1877. 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]

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

He was elected an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1888, and a full member in 1892. In November 1902 he was unanimously elected to succeed Sir George Reid as RSA president,[4] and he was knighted the following year. In 1920 the King of Belgium conferred Guthrie with the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Crown.[3][5] A member of Glasgow Art Club Guthrie exhibited often at the club's annual exhibitions.[6][7] He joined the newly-formed Society of Graphic Art in 1921, and exhibited with them in 1921.

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.

Guthrie died in the house of his retiral, in Rhu, Dunbartonshire in 1930.[3]

Principal Portraits
Earl Haig by James Guthrie 1923.

Guthrie was commissioned by many of the rich and famous of his day. 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. "The Royal Scottish Academy". The Times (36924). London. 13 November 1902. p. 10.
  5. "No. 32095". The London Gazette. 22 October 1920. p. 10197.
  6. Glasgow Herald article 4 December 1909 ‘’The Glasgow Art Club – Interesting Exhibition’’ Retrieved 2011-08-17
  7. Glasgow Herald article 9 April 1935 ‘’Glasgow Art Club – Memorial Exhibition Opened’’ Retrieved 2011-08-17

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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