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Lieutenant-Colonel Hay MacDowell
ca. 179593 x 58 in. (236.2 x 147.3 cm)
Sir Henry Raeburn
Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1756 – 1823, Edinburgh, Scotland)
Object Type:
Painting
Medium and Support:
Oil on canvas
Credit Line:
George Eastman Collection of the University of Rochester
Accession Number:
1968.102
Location: Not currently on view
Collection:
George Eastman Collection
Raeburn may have made this painting to commemorate General Hay MacDowell’s 1795 departure from the 57th Regiment of Foot, with which he had served for five years. He would go on to be named commander of the British forces in Madras, India.
The low perspective of the life-sized canvas elevates MacDowell to the status of a hero, while the vivid colors provide animation to an otherwise-static pose. The use of these simple devices to create a monumental effect helps to explain why Raeburn, who had no formal training as an artist, was the preeminent portraitist in Scotland in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
[Gallery label text, 2008]
The low perspective of the life-sized canvas elevates MacDowell to the status of a hero, while the vivid colors provide animation to an otherwise-static pose. The use of these simple devices to create a monumental effect helps to explain why Raeburn, who had no formal training as an artist, was the preeminent portraitist in Scotland in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
[Gallery label text, 2008]
Provenance
By descent through the sitter's family; their sale, Christie's, London, December 12, 1919, lot 60; purchased at that sale by Messrs. Sulley & Co., London (dealers); Lewis & Simmons, London (dealers); purchased from them by George Eastman (1854-1932), Rochester, NY; his bequest to the University of Rochester, 1932; transferred to the Gallery in 1968
Related Objects
See print made after this painting by Henry Macbeth-Raeburn, 1988.21
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Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:
- A Group of Eighteenth Century Portraits from the Eastman Collection 12/18/1939 - 1/15/1940
- The George Eastman Collection of Paintings end date ca. December 1949
- Treasures from Rochester Memorial Art Gallery 4/14/1977 - 5/28/1977
- 18th Century Prints and Drawings 10/7/1977 - 10/30/1977
- The George Eastman Collection 12/1/1979 - 1/13/1980
Bibliography
This object has the following bibliographic references:
- Article Scope: Reproduction only. Susan Dodge Peters, ed. Memorial Art Gallery: An Introduction to the Collection. New York, New York: Memorial Art Gallery in association with Hudson Hills Press, 1988.
- Article Title: A Group of Eighteenth Century Portraits. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Memorial Art Gallery. Gallery Notes. Rochester, New York: Memorial Art Gallery, 1935-1995. Volume Number: 5, Issue Number: 3. Issue Date: December 1939-January 1940. Page Number: 2-3
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Denys Sutton. Treasures from Rochester: Exhibited at Wildenstein Galleries, New York, April 14-May 28, 1977: Summary Catalogue. Rochester, New York: Memorial Art Gallery, 1977.
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Donald Rosenthal, ed. The George Eastman Collection. Rochester, New York: University of Rochester Press, 1979.
- Docent Newsletter. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery
- Article Author: Adelson, Candace J.. Article Title: Frits Thaulow's "The Stream": George Eastman and Impressionism. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Porticus. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery Volume Number: 17-19 Issue Date: 1994-96. Page Number: 44-49
- Article Author: Brayer, Betsy. Article Title: George Eastman Art Collector. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Rochester Review. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press Issue Date: Winter 1979-80. Page Number: 10-14
- Article Scope: Mention and reproduction. Elizabeth Brayer. Magnum Opus: The Story of the Memorial Art Gallery, 1913-1988. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 1988.
- John D. Morse. Old Masters in America. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally, 1955.
- Article Title: Raeburn's Tragic General. Article Scope: Mention. Daily Telegraph [London]. London, England: J. Ellis, 1856-1937. Issue Date: December 2, 1919.
- John D. Morse. Old master paintings in North America: over 3000 masterpieces by 50 great artists . New York, NY: Abbeville Press, 1979.
- René Gimpel. Diary of an Art Dealer 1918-1939. New York, NY: Universe Books, 1987.
- Article Scope: Mention and reproduction. Marjorie Searl and Lu Harper. The Memorial Art Gallery: 100 Years. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 2013.
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