RSA Scottish Art
Selkirk
 | Artist: Thomas Scott |
| Title: Selkirk | |
| Year: 1882 | |
| Medium: watercolour on paper | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| Description: The water-colourist Tom Scott was born in Selkirk and, although he travelled widely, he had a strong attachment to the landscape of the Borders. He was also interested in local history and archaeology.This view of Selkirk is part of an album whose flyleaf explains its history: When Mr T Craig-Brown was collecting material for his History of Selkirkshire he commissioned Mr Thomas Scott to paint and sketch places and items of interest in the Shire and Burgh. Scott chose an oval vignette format often used for book illustrations, and has painted a detailed but unfussy view. The palette chosen uses a full range of tones and a natural selection of hues. The hills near the horizon fade to blue tones, and the pale greys and sandy colours of the buildings suggest slate and sandstone. The warm ochre of the harvested fields adds warmth and light to the scene.The elevated position chosen by the artist for this scene allows the viewer to look down on the town. The shape of the town is defined by darker lines of trees, and rises steeply from the surrounding land. The view is divided into three fairly equal bands; the light foreground, the darker middle-ground with the town and hills, and the pale sky. The pale bands above and below the middle-ground concentrate the viewer's eye on the town itself. Although this may be a fairly accurate representation of Selkirk at this time, it may also be idealised. The high perspective gives an airy feeling to the place - the artist would have achieved a very different feeling by painting the town from a position amongst the trees or from a street. Also, we see the town far away in the middle-ground - the foreground of this romantic view shows farm workers harvesting corn, with rows of sheaves, a picnic basket and a sheepdog. This “pastoral” impression of the town, whether accurate or not, gives the viewer the sense of a quiet, peaceful and productive place. | |
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