HIDDEN HISTORY FOR ST. ANDREWS DAY - RAMSAY’S LOST PORTRAIT OF BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE As today is celebrated as St. Andrews Day in Scotland, here is a bit of recently uncovered tribal history that ought to at least appeal to family members - In 2008-09, art historian Dr. Bendor Grosvenor proved that the by then well known portrait by the French artist Maurice Quentin de la Tour purporting to be Bonnie Prince Charlie, the charismatic leader of Scotland’s 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, was in fact a painting of Charles’ younger brother, Henry. Until then the painting, which had been prominently displayed at National Galleries of Scotland, was considered to be the definitive portrait of Prince Charles in his prime, being widely reprinted in everything from history books to shortbread tins. Dr. Grosvenor thereafter set out to find the actual 1745 official portrait of the prince, which had seemingly disappeared after his final 1746 defeat, which resulted in his image being banned. At the Royal Archives in Windsor Castle, Grosvenor discovered a letter by Bonnie Prince Charlie’s valet that seemed to confirm not only the existence of the portrait, but that it had been painted in the Scottish capital Edinburg by the greatest of all 18th century Scottish artists, Allan Ramsay: “Sir, you are desired to come to the Palace of Holyrood House as soon as possible in order to take his Royal Highness’ picture. So I expect you’ll wait no further call. I am, your most humble servant, John Stuart, Holyrood House 26th of October 1745″. Thereafter, at National Portrait Gallery in London, Grosvenor finally discovered a black and white picture of a painting of Charles that suggested Ramsay’s style. On its back was a note saying that the portrait was at Gosford House, just outside of Edinburg, which was the seat of the (historically Jacobite) Earls of Wemyss (previously neighbours to the Ramsay Earls at Dalhousie). At Gosford House the portrait was found hanging in a dark corridor. Records at the house and subsequent expert authentication readily confirmed it was by Allan Ramsay. In as much as Ramsay went on to become King George III’s official artist, the portrait of the Jacobite prince, and thus his close association with the rebellion, had apparently become his “guilty little secret”. The Ramsay portrait would have been used as by the Bonnie Prince as his first official state portrait as regent once he retook the throne that his grandfather, James II, had lost the 1688 “Glorious Revolution”. Charles had thus taken the painting with him in 1745 when he and his army got as far as Derby, within striking distance of London, before turning back. Last February, the BBC dedicated an episode of The Culture Show to Grosvenor’s discovery, which is available on Youtube @ playlist youtube/playlist?list=PLQX4XQHV365fgkMdzyIE6Qzf3DM9B2LBV 1/4 - https://youtube/watch?v=OjGwKlRk1Eo 2/4 - https://youtube/watch?v=qLVitA_mWGs 3/4 - https://youtube/watch?v=L8SzUDKdO4g 4/4 - https://youtube/watch?v=GLvlTAj19yI
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 12:58:39 +0000