Scottish Art (1800–1945): A Nation Painted in Faith, Labour, and Light

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Between 1800 and 1945, Scottish art flourished with a voice that was both personal and political, poetic and practical. The section dedicated to this period at the National Galleries of Scotland offers a vivid cross-section of a country in transition—from romantic landscapes to industrial cities, from spiritual allegory to social realism.

You begin with the Romantic and Victorian painters, who saw Scotland as a land of myth and majesty.
- Horatio McCulloch’s Highland scenes glow with mist and memory—idealised, yet rooted in national pride.
- Sir David Wilkie’s genre paintings capture domestic life with warmth and wit, turning everyday moments into moral reflections.

Then the tone shifts. As the 19th century gives way to modernity, artists begin to paint labour, urban life, and civic struggle.
- Joan Eardley’s early works, though later more prominent, echo this transition—children, tenements, and chalked walls.
- William McTaggart’s seascapes blend impressionist light with Scottish weather, capturing movement and mood.

Post by H2O_cf | Oct 6, 2025