James Guthrie (artist)

James Guthrie ( born June 10, 1859 in Greenock, Inverclyde, † September 6, 1930 in Rhy, Dunbartonshire ) was a Scottish painter of the late Impressionism and important representative of the Glasgow Boys, a group of artists from the 19th and early 20th century.

Life and work

James Guthrie, born in 1859 in Greenock Inverclyde in the county, the son of a Scottish clergyman, had initially enrolled at Glasgow University to study law, but the study was 1877, so that he could devote himself entirely to painting. He settled first teach in Glasgow by James Drummond. In 1878 he went to London, where he was taught by John Pettie in history painting and genre painting. After completing his training, he applied for admission to the Glasgow Art Club with Edward Arthur Walton, but was rebuffed. The applications of fellow painters William York MacGregor and James Paterson were also rejected.

Guthrie then left Glasgow and went with Walton to Paris. There, they worked together on Joseph Crawhall intensively with the French realists, especially with the works of Jules Bastien- Lepage and suitable largely self-teaching painting techniques appropriate to. Back in Glasgow Guthrie came into contact with the Glasgow Boys, had become the leading figure William York MacGregor. Guthrie took but just as Arthur Melville in the regular meetings of the group in MacGregor's studio part, but swapped to the summer Malexkursionen intensively with colleagues from the artist. He lived most of the time in the country in Cockburnspath in the county of Berwickshire, where he also created the famous painting A Hind 's Daughter and School Mates.

1888 Guthrie was an associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy and in 1892 was elected a full member. During these years, Guthrie developed into the leading figure of the Glasgow Boys, after MacGregor had retired due to health problems. 1902 Guthrie President of the Royal Scottish Academy and the following year was knighted a Knight, so he was allowed to call from now on Sir James Guthrie. 1920 awarded him the Albert I, King of the Belgians from the Order of the Crown. Guthrie, who had become in the course of his life into an outstanding portrait painter, created in this period many important portraits, including such figures as Arthur James Balfour, David Lloyd George and Andrew Bonar Law. Guthrie died in 1930 in Rhu in the county of Dunbartonshire.