One of the artist's favourite pursuits, especially abroad, was exploring the contents of antique shops in search of the rare books, medals and china that he collected. This little picture is a reflection of his fascination with the old and the odd.
Sir William Fettes Douglas (Scottish, 1822 - 1891)
A self-taught painter, William Fettes Douglas worked as a bank clerk in Edinburgh for ten years. He was a keen antiquarian and collector, and his interests in those fields influenced his choice of subject-matter which sometimes included alchemy, astrology and magic. Enormously learned, he was appointed Director of the National Gallery of Scotland in 1877 and five years later, President of the Royal Scottish Academy.
