Lot 78: JOHN MCKIRDY DUNCAN, R.S.A.

JOHN MCKIRDY DUNCAN, R.S.A. 1866-1945 THE LEGEND OF ORPHEUS - DESIGN FOR MURAL Quantity: 3 triptych on three sheets of paper, one signed with monogram and dated l.r.: 95; two signed with monogram l.l. pencil and watercolour central sheet: 80 by 60cm., 31½ by 20in., flanking sheets: 80 by 30cm., 31½ by 11¾in.

Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, Arts and Crafts in Edinburgh 1880-1930, 1985, no.82;
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh Art Centre and Dundee, Art Galleries and Museums, John Duncan, 1986, no.22 (lent by Robin Anderson, Esq.)

Margaret Armour, Mural Depiction in Scotland , Part 1. Studio, vol.10, 1897, illustrated pp.101-104:
John Kemplay, The Paintings of John Duncan, 1994, illustrated pp.20-25

Commissioned by James Beveridge in 1895 for Pitreavie Castle, Dunfermline;
Christie's London, 28 October 1999, lot 236, where purchased by the present owner

'...Most characteristic and beautiful...' was the appraisal of the present works in an edition of The Studio of 1897. The designs were commissioned by James Beveridge for mural paintings at Pitreavie Castle, Dunfermline. Duncan was recommended by Patrick Geddes for whose Edinburgh home he had executed similar compositions.
The story of Orpheus was of particular importance to the symbolist movement and was painted by a number of its principle exponents including Gustave Moreau.