Shelley Matheson WS of Archibald Sharp LLP, Glasgow reported on the tour:
“A lovely way to spend Sunday being shown round the WS Art Collection at the Signet Library, followed by lunch at The Colonnades.
Art, architecture and Scottish legal history in one very beautiful setting.
James Hamilton, Researcher Principal at the Signet Library, led us through a fascinating exploration of the collection, including portraits in oils, busts and prints by artists including Allan Ramsay, Sir Henry Raeburn, Sir George Reid, Sir John de Medina and David Scougall.
What I loved most was that the collection is not just about the history of the WS Society. It also reflects the evolution of Scottish art, bringing together early commissioned works, gifts and bequests, and a significant collection of prints and engravings.
There were some brilliant details throughout, with every picture telling a story, including some striking legal-historical material among the prints and documents, and, best of all, Sir Walter Scott’s chaise longue.
My favourite painting of the morning was George Watson’s portrait of Sibella Boswell with her granddaughter — a beautiful and unusually tender piece among the more formal legal and civic portraits.
A real hidden treasure in plain sight, and a reminder of how much history sits quietly behind Scotland’s legal institutions.”
