Denis Peploe

Sydney Goodsir Smith, 1915 - 1975. Poet (Landscape sketch on the reverse)

About this artwork

The poet and playwright Sydney Goodsir Smith was born in New Zealand. Following his family’s move to Scotland he absorbed the language of his adopted country and immersed himself in the works of the medieval Scots makars (poets). His first volume of poetry, Skail Wind, was published in 1941. It included the poem Epistle to John Guthrie in which he explained why he chose to write in Scots rather than English:
Tae reach the hills his fantice* needs
This bard maun tak the wings o’ Scots.’
(*Fancy or imagination)
The artist has painted the young poet accompanied by the conventional romantic symbol of poetic inspiration — a flash of lightning.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Denis Peploe (1914 - 1993) Scottish
  • title:
    Sydney Goodsir Smith, 1915 - 1975. Poet (Landscape sketch on the reverse)
  • date created:
    About 1945
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    76.20 x 63.50 cm; Framed: 89.20 x 76.70 x 5.80 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Given by Mrs Hazel Goodsir Smith 1976
  • accession number:
    PG 2368
  • gallery:
  • depicted:
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Denis Peploe

Denis Peploe