William Marshall, 1748 - 1833. Violinist and composer
About this artwork
William Marshall was described by Robert Burns as the 'first composer of Strathspeys of the age'; a strathspey being a Scottish dance tune, somewhat slower than a reel. Marshall was born in Fochabers, in the north east of Scotland, and became house steward and butler to the Duke of Gordon. This portrait was commissioned by the Duke and shows Marshall with his fiddle and bow as if he has just paused whilst composing a new piece - his quill and paper are ready on the table beside him. Marshall set new standards of technical accomplishment and many of his tunes are still played today.
Updated before 2020
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artist:
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title:William Marshall, 1748 - 1833. Violinist and composer
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date created:1817
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:127.00 x 101.60 cm; Framed: 160.50 x 135.20 x 8.50 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Bequeathed by Ian Grant Smith 1994
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accession number:PG 2987
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gallery:
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depicted:
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subject:
John Moir
John Moir
Moir was the son of the minister of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, and the nephew of James Byres, the famous Scottish antiquarian in Rome. Moir was in Edinburgh in 1803, when he was described as a landscape painter. After studying in Italy, he based himself in Edinburgh but he spent part of every year...