RSA Scottish Art
Stormclouds, Strathfillan
 | Artist: James Whitelaw Hamilton |
| Title: Stormclouds, Strathfillan | |
| Year: c. 1920 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA Diploma Collection | |
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| Open print version of this work | |
| Description: James Whitelaw Hamilton was a member of the group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. Working in oils, pastel and watercolour, Hamilton specialised in painting the landscapes of Scotland and the north of England.Stormclouds, Strathfillan portrays a stretch of countryside between Tyndrum and Crianlarich The view points across Strathfillan towards a narrow glen, at the head of which lies Ben Lui in the west. Although the pattern of hills defines the majority of this composition, the artist is mostly interested in conveying the rapidly changing weather. The swirling sky dominates the landscape in this view, and the dark clouds at the centre of this image look like they are closing on the land to drench it in rain. Patches of sun and shade move across the hillsides as the clouds shift rapidly. Hamilton has made a very convincing, realistic observation of this scene. He has skilfully shown ripples on the water and detail in the foreground plants, while the distant trees recede into the depths of the glen. The natural palette and subtle shifts of tone add to the authenticity of this painting. Hamilton has used two rather different ways of painting here. The landscape is painted with control and fine definition, while the sky is vigorous and wild in execution, with violent swirls and dabs of light and shade.The greater half of this composition is taken up by the energetic exploration of the sky. The meandering river leads the viewer's eye straight into the heart of the hills, and from there the eye is led into the curling clouds. If you mask parts of the image, you can see each effect which different parts of the scene have on the total image. If you remove the foreground the image still works as a view of hills and sky. However, removing even a little of the sky leaves the view looking inconclusive. The storm clouds of the title define the whole scene. | |
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