RSA Scottish Art
Sicilian Boats
 | Artist: David McClure |
| Title: Sicilian Boats | |
| Year: 1965 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| © the artist’s family | |
| Description: David McClure studied under William Gillies and produced a very varied range of work, including still life, figure painting and landscape.This Italian landscape, Sicilian Boats, is focused on the pattern of the beached fishing boats, nets and an anchor lying by the shore and their relationship to the village, which is almost like a stage set. There is a lonely figure of an old lady walking on the beach. The boats are abandoned because a storm is coming in; vertical slashes of paint in the top left corner, representing rain, indicate its arrival. We can see the influence of some of Gillies's work on McClure in this painting: the colours are not naturalistic, but the dark browns and purples suggest both the approaching storm and the warmth of the Mediterranean climate. The bottom two-thirds of the canvas are almost a flat plane with little texture or distinguishing features. This emphasises the starkness of the boats, and how out of place they look on the beach rather than floating in the sea. Compare these aspects of this painting to Harbour Scene, St Monans, by Gillies. The execution of the painting is not gloomy or dark, in spite of the subject matter. The brushstrokes are energetic, and the darker earthier colours are complemented by some very bright, cheerful colours on the boats and buildings. The colours may seem unnatural, but McClure has perhaps attempted to reproduce the curious light which appears just before a storm.The mood of the picture is sombre. The boats are unable to sail, the whole village has taken shelter, and only the solitary woman has ventured outside. Why has McClure placed her there? Is it for compositional or emotional reasons? We may not be able to pin down the story in this picture, but the artist has offered us many ways to think and feel about the scene. How you choose to read this picture is a very personal choice. | |
Find us on