Artwork
A Portrait Study of Two Children in a Landscape (Reverse: Study of a Young Man in an Interior)
About this work
Overview
This double-sided painting, created around 1854 by Scottish artist Daniel Macnee, features a portrait study on one side and a separate study on the reverse. The work is held in the Scottish National Gallery.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts two children in a landscape, with the younger child on the ground and the older on a rock behind. They wear old-fashioned clothing, with the younger in white and the older in red. The scene conveys serenity, with the children set against a backdrop of trees and water.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realistic style, the painting showcases attention to detail in the children's clothing and facial expressions. Earth tones dominate the palette, creating a muted color scheme that contributes to the overall tranquil atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Daniel Macnee, later knighted and president of the Royal Scottish Academy, created this work. The painting's reverse features a study of a young man in an interior, suggesting the artist's practice of utilizing both sides of a canvas for separate studies.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Daniel Macnee FRSE PRSA LLD (4 June 1806, Fintry, Stirlingshire – 17 January 1882, Edinburgh), was a Scottish portrait painter who served as president of the Royal Scottish Academy (1876).
A Lady in Grey (Portrait of the Artist's Daughter, later Mrs Wiseman)
A Study for 'A Lady in Grey' (Isabella Macnee, Mrs Wiseman, the artist's daughter)
Sir James Bain (1817 - 1898)
A Portrait Study of a Gentleman Standing in an Interior
A Portrait Study of a Gentleman Seated in an Interior
A Portrait Study of a Lady Seated in a Landscape
A Portrait Study of a Gentleman Standing in an Interior
Louisa Balfour, Mrs James Mackenzie of Craigpark (1779 - 1859)
