About this artwork
David I (about 1085-1153) was the youngest son of Malcolm III and St Margaret. A pious king, he followed in his mother’s footsteps and founded several monasteries and abbeys. The most significant was the Abbey of Holyrood in Edinburgh which is being built in the background of this scene. David is shown as a king who gladly delays his own activities as he gestures to interrupt his masons in order to listen to a petition from a group of poor subjects. On the right, a hunting party, complete with a falcon, are waiting for the king to re-join them. This is one of eight historical murals on first floor of the Great Hall in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Updated 2021
-
artist:William Brassey Hole (1846 - 1917) English
-
title:The Good Deeds of King David I A.D. 1124 - 1153
-
date created:1899
-
materials:variant of spirit fresco on canvas adhered to wall
-
object type:
-
accession number:UPG.030
-
gallery:
-
subject:
-
artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
William Brassey Hole
William Brassey Hole
Edinburgh-based artist William Hole specialised in history painting and etching. Around 1895 he volunteered to decorate the chancel of St James’ Church on Inverleith Row with large-scale murals. In 1897 the still unfinished work came to the attention of John Ritchie Findlay, owner of The Scotsman...