RSA Scottish Art
Caleb Balderstone's Ruse
 | Artist: George H Hay |
| Title: Caleb Balderstone's Ruse | |
| Year: c. 1876 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA Diploma Collection | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| Description: George Hay specialised in narrative paintings (where the painting illustrates or tells a story), his subjects frequently coming from Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels.This painting is based on an incident from The Bride of Lammermoor, by Sir Walter Scott. Caleb Balderstone was the aged butler of Ravenswood, a house fallen on hard times. In desperate attempts to maintain the dignity of the family, he resorted to comical and absurd actions such as smashing crockery so that guests could not be served any meals. This painting, which is a small study for a larger version, is full of well-timed theatrical gestures that bring the incident alive. The expressions of the two people capture a moment of emotion and turmoil. We can even see dishes in mid-air falling from the shelf. This action could not be painted from observation, and perhaps the relatively new art of photography may have been an inspiration for this detail. The artist has concentrated on the message the image is sending. The media handling - drawing with paint - clarifies the message.The composition is uncluttered. The painting is divided into two diagonally from top left through the arm of the main character to the bottom right where the chair lies on its side. The fallen objects help to lead the eye in a circular motion around the edge of the scene. The right side of the painting is almost completely black, as though the room is a huge cave. The left side nearest the viewer is brightly illuminated, perhaps by a high window or a torch flame. The line of shadow on the wall, and the line between wall and floor, create perspective and depth, leading the viewer's eye towards the action.The mood of the painting, created by the strong tonal work, is of violence and anguish; but the details of the story offer another view of the scene. Without knowing the story the scene is not humorous at all. But once we know the intentions of the man, we can see a funny side to his actions. Many images, particularly photographs, can have more than one meaning depending on the story behind the image. Can you think of other possible stories or contexts which would change the meaning of this painting? Write some short captions for the image and see how its meaning changes. | |
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