1855
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
The Porteous Mob is a 1855 oil by James Drummond, held at National Galleries Scotland.
The painting depicts a chaotic scene of a mob in the streets, with people gathered around a central figure. The atmosphere is tense, with some individuals appearing to be in conflict. The setting is a city street, with buildings and windows visible in the background. In the foreground, a man in a white shirt and red hat stands out, surrounded by others who seem to be reacting to him. The use of warm colors, such as browns and yellows, adds to the sense of tension and drama. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the works of James Drummond.
The Porteous Mob is an oil painting by the Scottish painter James Drummond in 1855. It portrays the Porteous Riots of 1736, one of the most violent moments in the history of Edinburgh. Due to the popularity of this painting, it was purchased as a part of the foundation collection at the Scottish National Gallery in 1856.
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Among his pieces, Drummond often created elaborate depictions of Scottish historical and literary events. His portrayal of the gory Porteous Riots was one such painting. People gathered at the Grassmarket, where Andrew Wilson and George Robertson, local robbers and merchants, were hanged, on April 14, 1736. A disturbance broke out, and when the detested City Guard Captain John Porteous gave the order for his soldiers to open fire into the crowd, the mob was subdued, instantly killing a man and injuring numerous innocent bystanders. Porteous received a death sentence after being convicted…
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Drummond is a renowned antiquarian, and his paintings reflect his thorough understanding of Edinburgh's Old Town's histories. Drummond's dramatic interpretation of the events in Sir Walter Scott's novel takes place against a beautiful backdrop of the Grassmarket in Edinburgh. Based on his own vivid paintings of Old Town buildings in the 1840s and 1850s, Drummond created a dramatic lighting scheme for his "stage set" of the Castle and the Grassmarket apartments. Torches illuminate Candlemaker Rows and faces can be seen peeping out of every window, where rioters stop a woman in her vehicle and…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
James Drummond FSA (1 September 1816 – 12 August 1877) was an artist and the curator of the National Gallery of Scotland from 1868 to 1877. He was also an early photographer.
See the richer artist page
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