A leading figure of the Glasgow Boys and one of Scotland’s most important late 19th-century painters, Sir James Guthrie was instrumental in shaping a modern vision for Scottish art.
Though initially destined for a legal career, Guthrie turned to painting in his early twenties, receiving no formal academic training beyond a brief period in London and time spent working in the artist colonies of France. This independence lent him a distinctive voice, and he quickly became recognised for his commitment to realism and modern subject matter.
Guthrie was a central member of the Glasgow Boys, a group of progressive young artists who sought to challenge the dominant academic traditions of the time. Rejecting the sentimental narratives and dark palettes favoured by the Scottish art establishment, Guthrie and his contemporaries embraced naturalism, plein air painting, and a new, observational approach to rural life. His works from this period, such as A Hind’s Daughter (1883), are celebrated for their quiet dignity, honest portrayal of working-class subjects, and deft handling of light and tone.
Though primarily known for his work in oil, Guthrie was also a skilled draughtsman and worked in watercolour with notable sensitivity. His compositional clarity, restrained palette, and subtle handling of atmosphere reveal the influence of French Realist painters like Bastien-Lepage, whom he admired.
In later years, Guthrie turned increasingly towards portraiture, becoming one of the most sought-after portrait painters in Britain. He was appointed President of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1902 and knighted in 1909 for his services to the arts. Today, his legacy endures not only in his own works but in the bold, modern spirit he helped ignite in Scottish painting.
