William McGonagall, c. 1825 - 1902. Poet and actor
About this artwork
McGonagall has a reputation as a notoriously bad poet. He wrote over 200 poems during his lifetime of which, ‘The Tay Bridge Disaster’ is perhaps most famous - its opening line: “Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay!” Born in Edinburgh, McGonagall’s family moved to Dundee where he became a hand-loom weaver. When he was about twenty he debuted his acting skills in the role of Macbeth, and his desire for performance remained with him throughout his life. He was in his early fifties before “a strong desire to write poetry” captured him. He wrote about various subjects but there was an underlying theme of man’s struggle against nature and the transience of life. This drawing shows McGonagall precariously walking along the Tay Bridge in full Highland regalia, holding a stick for balance.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Gerald Mangan (born 1951) Scottish
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title:William McGonagall, c. 1825 - 1902. Poet and actor
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date created:April 1997
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materials:Black Indian ink on paper
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measurements:38.00 x 24.00 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased 2006
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accession number:PG 3427
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gallery:
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depicted:
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subject:
Gerald Mangan
Gerald Mangan
Gerald Mangan has had an eclectic and successful career as a poet, playwright, journalist, painter and cartoonist. Born in Glasgow, he worked as a writer-in-residence at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee and at Theatre Workshop in Edinburgh, where he was also an actor and...