John Scougal
Encyclopedia
John Scougal was an early Scottish painter.
Of a respectable family, being a cousin to Patrick Scougal
(d.1682), Bishop of Aberdeen
, John Scougal is said to have been born at Leith
, where his father had a residence, and where several of his works were still in the Town Hall in the nineteenth century.
In the latter part of the seventeenth century, one of the resorts of the fashion and beauty in Edinburgh
was on the east side of the Advocates' Close, where John Scougal the painter rented or owned a house, to which he had added an upper storey arranged as a studio.
Scougal had a very extensive practice, which latterly led him into some hasty work, said to be observable in the portrait of George Heriot
, which he copied in 1698 from the now lost original by Paul van Somer.
In the City of Glasgow collection are three full-lengths of William III, Queen Mary, and Queen Anne. Of these Queen Mary is by far the best - well drawn, good in colour, and suggestive of the influence of Van Dyke
's work. From the Glasgow Town Council Minutes of March 12, 1708, it is ascertained that the purchase by the Provost
of the William and Mary from "Mr Scougal, limner (painter) in Edinburgh," for £27 sterling, was approved. Payment for the Queen Anne was ordered to be made on August 2, 1712, to "John Scougal, elder, painter, fifteen pounds sterling."
The Glasgow Council entries indicate he had a son of the same name; and Andrew Bell, the engraver, who had several of Scougal's works in his possession, married his granddaughter.
John Scougal died at Prestonpans
in 1730, in his eighty-fifth year.
Of his portraits:
Of a respectable family, being a cousin to Patrick Scougal
Patrick Scougal
Patrick Scougal was a 17th century Scottish churchman. A native of Haddingtonshire , and cousin of the painter John Scougal, in 1624 he graduated from the University of Edinburgh as Master of Arts. In 1636, he became a minister of Dairsie parish, Fife, moving on to Leuchars in 1645 and then to...
(d.1682), Bishop of Aberdeen
Bishop of Aberdeen
The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
, John Scougal is said to have been born at Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, where his father had a residence, and where several of his works were still in the Town Hall in the nineteenth century.
In the latter part of the seventeenth century, one of the resorts of the fashion and beauty in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
was on the east side of the Advocates' Close, where John Scougal the painter rented or owned a house, to which he had added an upper storey arranged as a studio.
Scougal had a very extensive practice, which latterly led him into some hasty work, said to be observable in the portrait of George Heriot
George Heriot
George Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
, which he copied in 1698 from the now lost original by Paul van Somer.
In the City of Glasgow collection are three full-lengths of William III, Queen Mary, and Queen Anne. Of these Queen Mary is by far the best - well drawn, good in colour, and suggestive of the influence of Van Dyke
Anthony van Dyck
Sir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next...
's work. From the Glasgow Town Council Minutes of March 12, 1708, it is ascertained that the purchase by the Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of the William and Mary from "Mr Scougal, limner (painter) in Edinburgh," for £27 sterling, was approved. Payment for the Queen Anne was ordered to be made on August 2, 1712, to "John Scougal, elder, painter, fifteen pounds sterling."
The Glasgow Council entries indicate he had a son of the same name; and Andrew Bell, the engraver, who had several of Scougal's works in his possession, married his granddaughter.
John Scougal died at Prestonpans
Prestonpans
Prestonpans is a small town to the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the unitary council area of East Lothian. It has a population of 7,153 . It is the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, and has a history dating back to the 11th century...
in 1730, in his eighty-fifth year.
Of his portraits:
- Elizabeth Lauder, wife of Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of LauderdaleCharles Maitland, 3rd Earl of LauderdaleCharles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale , was the second son of John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale ....
(1669) (now in Thirlestane CastleThirlestane CastleThirlestane Castle is a castle set in extensive parklands near Lauder in the Borders of Scotland. The site is aptly named Castle Hill, as it stands upon raised ground. However, the raised land is within Lauderdale, the valley of the Leader Water. The land has been in the ownership of the Maitland...
) - Richard Lauder, Laird of HaltounHaltoun HouseHaltoun House, or Hatton House, was a Scottish baronial mansion set in a park, with extensive estates in the vicinity of Ratho, in the west of Edinburgh City Council area, Scotland...
, Chief of the Lauders (1669) (in Thirlestane CastleThirlestane CastleThirlestane Castle is a castle set in extensive parklands near Lauder in the Borders of Scotland. The site is aptly named Castle Hill, as it stands upon raised ground. However, the raised land is within Lauderdale, the valley of the Leader Water. The land has been in the ownership of the Maitland...
) - Archibald Primrose, Lord CarringtonArchibald Primrose, Lord CarringtonSir Archibald Primrose, 1st Baronet, Lord Carrington was a notable Scottish lawyer, judge, and Cavalier.The son of James Primrose Sir Archibald Primrose, 1st Baronet, Lord Carrington (May 16, 1616 – November 27, 1679) was a notable Scottish lawyer, judge, and Cavalier.The son of James Primrose Sir...
, Lord Justice ClerkLord Justice ClerkThe Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
(1670) (in the collection of Lord Rosebery) - Sir Thomas Steuart of Kirkfield and Coltness, Bart, MP, (1631-1698) c.1685 (University of Edinburgh Fine Art Collection)
- John Leslie, 8th Earl of Rothes (two separate portraits in the Clan Leslie Charitable Trust)
- George HeriotGeorge HeriotGeorge Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
(1698) - Two paintings of ancestors of the Clerks of PenicuikClerk BaronetsThere has been one creation of baronets with the surname Clerk . It was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia by Letters Patent dated 24 March 1679, for John Clerk of Pennycuik , whose father, also John Clerk of Penicuik, had returned from Paris in 1647 with a considerable fortune and purchased...
- Isabel, daughter of Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale (1706) (family collection)
- King William IIIWilliam III of EnglandWilliam III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
(1707-8) (in the Glasgow collection) - Queen MaryMary II of EnglandMary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
(1707-8) (in the Glasgow collection) - Queen AnneAnne of Great BritainAnne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
(1712) (in the Glasgow collection)