by Panny Laing, Logie Steading Art Gallery
We have been running the Logie Steading Art Gallery since the Steading first opened in 1994 and we have been fortunate enough to exhibit paintings, sculpture, original prints, jewellery, bronzes, furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles – as well as our popular range of cards – by a huge number of wonderfully creative artists.
100 Years Ago: The Scottish Colourists
As it is 100 years since the completion of the Steading buildings I was wondering what contemporary artwork, paintings in particular, would have been being painted by Scottish artists in 1926. I was delighted to be reminded that the Scottish Colourists – Francis Cadell, John Duncan Fergusson, George Leslie Hunter, and Samuel John Peploe – were at the height of their powers, producing post-impressionist works focused on landscapes, high society interiors, and still lives. Around 1926 their work was heavily influenced by Paul Cezanne, emphasising structure, tone and intense colour.
Francis Cadell (1883–1937)
Elegant Interiors
Cadell was renowned for his stylish, bold paintings of Edinburgh New Town interiors. Around 1925–1926, he was producing his famous series of an elegant, fashionable woman in his studio, notably A Lady in Black (c. 1925-1926), which was purchased by Glasgow Museums in 1926.
Iona Landscapes
He spent summers on the Isle of Iona, painting directly onto the panel to capture the brilliant turquoise seas and sandy beaches, with high commercial success in 1925-1926.
Samuel John Peploe (1871–1935)
Still Lifes
Peploe lived most of his life in Edinburgh but often visited France, making Paris his home from 1910 – 1913. During this time he was heavily influenced by Cézanne, producing meticulously planned still lifes featuring tulips, roses, and Chinese vases.
Iona Landscapes
Alongside Cadell, Peploe was producing intense landscape studies of Iona, including the Iona Landscape: Rocks series (1925-1927).
French Scenes
He was also painting in locations like Cassis, France.
George Leslie Hunter (1877–1931)
Fife and South of France
Born on the Island of Bute he and his family emigrated to California in 1892, returning to Scotland in 1922. Following his move to Fife, he was painting vibrant scenes of the Scottish countryside and coastal villages, such as Old Mill, Fifeshire
Still Lifes
He painted still lifes, such as Still Life with Flowers and Fruit(c. 1923–1926), characterised by rich, bold colours applied to everyday objects.
John Duncan Fergusson (1874–1961)
Active in France/UK
The most international of the four painters, he spent the war years in London and Edinburgh. By the mid-1920s, Fergusson was painting dynamic outdoor subjects, including scenes of the South of France and the Highlands.
These four influential artists were painting a hundred or more years ago and the legacy of their influence on art created since then is profound. They transformed perceptions of the Scottish landscape by applying an Impressionist-inspired, bright and, at times, bold palette, setting a precedent for contemporary painters to view Scottish subjects through a modern lens.
The influence of these trail-blazing artists can be seen in the work by many of the artists who regularly exhibit in Logie Steading Art Gallery 100 years after their time.
