Gourlay Steell
{{Short description|Scottish artist (1819–1894)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
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| death_place = Edinburgh, Scotland
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File:Engraving of Queen Victoria reading Bible to sick fisherman Wellcome L0072274.jpg
File:23 Minto Street, Edinburgh.jpg
File:The grave of Gourlay Steell, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.JPG
Gourlay Steell RSA (22 March 1819– 31 January 1894) was a 19th-century Scottish artist.
Life
Gourlay was born at 20 Calton Hill in EdinburghEdinburgh and Leith Post Office directory 1819-20 on 22 March 1819 the son of John Steell, a wood-carver and Margaret Gourlay of Dundee. His elder brother John was a sculptor of national standing.
He studied under William Allan and Robert Scott Lauder.Dictionary of National Biography:Steell
Aged only 13 he had his first piece displayed at the Royal Scottish Academy, a model of a greyhound, and in 1835 he displayed a full-size sculpture of a bloodhound. From that year until death he exhibited almost continually.Dictionary of National Biography: Steell
By the 1840s he had established himself and was living in a fine house at 33 East Claremont Street in Edinburgh's New Town.Edinburgh and Leith Post Office directory 1845-46
In 1872 he was appointed the official painter of animals to Queen Victoria, succeeding Sir Edwin Landseer. In 1882 he replaced Sir William Fettes Douglas as Curator of the National Gallery of Scotland. At this time he was living with his family at 4 Palmerston Place in Edinburgh's West End.Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1889-90
In 1882 he succeeded William Fettes Douglas as Principal Curator of the National Gallery of Scotland, serving until death, and eventually after an inter-regnum being replaced by Robert Gibb.The Concept of the Master in Art Education: by Matthew Potter
He died on 31 January 1894 at 23 Minto Street, Edinburgh{{cite web|url=http://www.westblacket.org.uk/rhcontent/people.htm|title=Introduction|publisher=|accessdate=25 January 2017}} and was buried in Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh with his wife Jessie Anderson who had died in 1883. The exceptionally modest gravestone has fallen, and lies forlornly in the westmost section of the cemetery, adjacent to modern housing developments.
His son, David George Steell ARSA followed in his footsteps and became an animal artist.
Works
see{{Art UK bio|retrieved=25 January 2017|ref=1}}
- Greyfriars Bobby (1889) purchased by Patrick Dudgeon FRSE
- The Shooting Party, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
- Deerstalking on Jura, Glasgow Museums
- A Challenge, Glasgow Museums (two Highland cattle fighting)
- The Trysting Place, Glasgow Museums (three dogs)
- A Highland Parting, Dundee Art Gallery and Museum (sheep and Highland cattle at a river)
- John Hay Esq of Letham Grange, Angus Council
- Old Pets of Haddo, National Trust for Scotland (ponies)
References
{{Reflist}}
- Dictionary of National Biography: Steell
External links
- http://www.avictorian.com/Steell_Gourlay.html
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Category:Royal Scottish Academicians