Most Scottish occupations are the same as anywhere else. The world over, the same things preoccupy us & the same services are required. Many jobs involve the sea or water & the use or exploitation of those for better or for worse. As a vegetarian of nearly forty years, some of the occupations in Scotland come from an abhorrent place as far as I’m concerned; in no way am I in favour of jobs such as in gamekeeping, fishing & land “management” as well as nuclear energy. Then again, there are those who use the water in the creation of sustainable & renewable energy.
Of course where there is people, there is art & I’ve trawled around trying to find some representatives from the world of work in Scotland. Many of these works are not really my cup of tea but of course that’s no reason to exclude them...
Architect: Portrait of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1914), Francis Henry Newbery (1855-1946)
Of course Mackintosh was a great artist & Scottish genius, but he started out his working life as an architect. In Newbery’s CRM painting, we see him with some architectural plans in hand.
Angling: Salmon Fishing on the Dee (1902), Joseph Farquharson (1846-1935)
I mean nowadays, you can go fishing & put the fish back but as far as I’m concerned, the fish should be left alone.
Nurse: The Scottish Women's Hospital: In The Cloister of the Abbaye at Royaumont. Dr. Frances Ivens inspecting a French patient (1920), Norah Neilson-Gray (1882-1931)
The composition is really complex. I think this adds to the admiration we all have for nurses the world over, that they can’t often get peace to just do their job haha.
Musician: Angus Mackay (1812–1859), Piper to Queen Victoria (1843–1853), Alexander Johnston (1815-1891)
I could find surprisingly few Scottish paintings of bagpipers. There were several that definitely were not Scottish, such as some by Bosch of all people. Perhaps even Google (other search engines are available) just found them too cheesy…
Actor: Sir Sean Connery (b.1930), Actor (c. 1985), John Bellany (1942-2013)
Not a great fan of subject, artist nor the painting but I find the depiction quite amusing & weirdly emasculating nevertheless.
Archaeologist: Sir George Macdonald (1862–1940), Archaeologist (1929), Maurice Greiffenhagen (1862-1931)
A beautiful portrait of a quietly important figure. Due to his work logging Greek coins, George Macdonald was an Honorary Curator of the Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery in Glasgow. His legacy is far-reaching. Not only did he leave 200 books on archaeology to the Edinburgh University library, but he introduced superannuation for teachers in Scotland. I bow before him.
Teacher: Sir William Wright Smith (1875–1956), FRSE (1945), Stanley Cursiter (1887-1976)
It’s unclear whether William Wright Smith benefited from superannuation or not, but it’s fair to say he looks suitably professorial in wonderful Curister's wonderful portrait. He received an honorary doctorate at Aberdeen University. He also became the Queen’s Botanist in Scotland. Whatever in god’s name that means.
Farmer: Newborn Calf (date unknown), Margot Sandeman (1922-2009)
The colours & simple, flat composition of this work makes me think of Marc Chagall’s works, where the figures & animals are almost reduced to shapes.
Craftsman: James W. Briggs, Violin Maker in Glasgow (date unknown), Robert Cree Crawford (1842-1924)
I always like portraits & photographs like this, where people are dressed quite well for the job they’re doing but then they throw on an apron so as not to mess up their suit. But then that’s not quite well-dressed enough to have your portrait done, so their dress jacket goes back on!
Shipbuilder: Steam Hammer and Ingot, Beardmore Forge, Glasgow (c.1950), Cavendish Morton (1911-2015)
Shipbuilding, like other heavy industries, is not what it was of course, yet the Industrial Revolution inspired many artists. The scale of production & the noise & often the dangerous nature of the work have instigated some thrilling works.
Chef: Nick Nairn, born 1959. Chef (1999), Ian Hughes (1958-2014)
I heard a story about Nick Nairn recently that wasn’t very flattering, but this is a very sympathetic portrait & no, I’m not going to repeat the story.
Minister: Rev. Thomas Chalmers, 1780-1847. Preacher & social reformer (1840), Thomas Duncan (1780-1847)
This very fine portrait suggests that the mind of the minister portrayed is on higher things. It’s sombre but sensitive, without show or bluster & it evokes the character of a thoughtful & quiet man.
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