Lot 42: Circle of George Sanders (1774-1846)

Circle of George Sanders (1774-1846)
The Islay Otter Hunt with numerous figures, including Walter Frederick Campbell (1798-1855), and his son John Francis Campbell (1822-1885)
indistinctly inscribed 'An otter hunt in Islay painted by Cha[tfield?] in Islay/Portrait of ..... Campbell of Islay............' (on the stretcher)
oil on canvas
32 x 42 in. (81.3 x 106.8 cm.)

PROPERTY OF THE EARL GRANVILLE
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The Campbell family established themselves on Islay in 1726, and had a profound effect on the island and its history. Transforming the agricultural system, building new roads, establishing schools, fishing and linen industries, the family proved to be highly popular lairds.

Walter Frederick Campbell, the central figure holding a musket, became laird in 1816 at the age of 18. He established the ports of Ellen in 1821 (named after his first wife Eleanor), Charlotte in 1828 (named after his mother), and Wemyss (after his father-in-law, the 8th Earl of Wemyss). His improvements left him greatly indebted and in 1853, having been administrated by a trust for five years, the island was sold for £500,000 to James Morrison, who established one of the greatest fortunes of the 19th century.

To the right of Walter is his son, John Francis Campbell, who became known as Iain Og Ile 'Campbell of Islay'. Educated at Eton and the University of Edinburgh, he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1851. In 1854 he became private secretary to George, 8th Duke of Argyll, and later held several government posts. A renaissance man of eclectic interests and ability, Campbell is primarily remembered as a folklorist. With his ability to speak fluent Gaelic, he travelled to the Western Isles studying folklore and published his accumulated stories in Popular Tales of the West Highlands Orally Collected. In addition to folklore, Campbell was also a scientist of some calibre and devoted much of his studies to Geology and Meteorology. He died in 1885 at Cannes where he is buried.

We are grateful to Alistair Campbell and James Holloway for their help in preparing this catalogue entry.

VARIOUS PROPERTIES