The Lothian picture collection : history and context

Abstract

The historic picture collection of the earls and marquises of Lothian hung, until the middle of this century, at their Sottish seat, Newbattle Abbey (near Edinburgh). The first pictures came to the house in the mid-sixteenth century, and were continually added to until 1900. This thesis reconstructs the contents of that collection, now dispersed, by tracing the contribution to it of the successive owners. A parallel aim is to put each collector, and the collection as a whole, in a national and historic context, thus reflecting developments of taste within both the family and the nation. A detailed analysis of each picture has not been attempted.

Chapter I provides an account of the changing architectural context of the collection. Chapter II is concerned with the artistic interests of the earlier members of the family. Chapter III deals with the 1st Earl of Ancram, whose son became 3rd Earl of Lothian by marriage, and who himself had an important role in the cultural history of Britain. Chapters IV and V analyse in detail the extensive acquisitions of the 3rd earl, and of his son, the 1st marquis, respectively. Chapter VI covers the years 1703-1853, when relatively few pictures were added. Chapter VII is devoted to the 8th marquis, a collector of national importance; his book on Italian history, literature and art is also briefly examined. Chapter VIII traces the additional purchases made by his brother, the 9th marquis, with whose death the period of collecting at Newbattle came to a close. A final chapter records the recent history of the collection.

Volume II contains a complete catalogue of all the pictures known to have hung at Newbattle, so far as it can be reconstructed. This volume also contain the illustrations.