Duncan MacGregor Whyte (3 May 1866 – 3 Dec 1953) was an early-mid 20th century Scottish painter specialising in portrait, landscape, and seascape painting

Early Life

Duncan MacGregor Whyte was born in Oban, Argyll in 1866, to Rev. Charles Whyte the Congregational Minister of Oban and Eliza Whyte (née Farquharson),[1] the daughter of Archibald Farquharson, the Congregational Minister of Tiree.[2]

Artist

After schooling in Oban, he began his art studies in Glasgow. He continued his studies on the continent, firstly in Antwerp, Belgium under Van Havermaet and later at the Académie Delécluse, Paris under Delécluse, Caillot and Delance. [3][4]

It was at the Académie Delécluse that he met his wife, the artist Mary Baylis Barnard.[5]

On his return to Scotland, he built a reputation as a portrait artist.

Between 1911 and 1921 he travelled to Canada and Australia, working on portrait commissions.[5] Among the most notable being those of Captain H. V. Throssell V.C and Dr. C.O.L. Riley, the Archbishop of Perth, both of which now are included in the State Art Collection of the Art Gallery of Western Australia.[6][7]

During his stay in Australia, he became involved with the West Australian Society of Arts, acting as President from 1920 to 1921.[8] Returning to Scotland in 1921, he made his base at Bealachan Ruighe in Oban and spent summers on Tiree.[2] In the early 1900’s he had built a Studio on the island, at Ceann na Creige in Balephuill.[9]

In addition to portraits, Whyte produced landscapes and seascapes, often portraying daily life in Canada, Australia and Tiree. He exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy (13), The Royal Society of Artists in Watercolours (2), the Royal Glasgow Institute (50+), the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool (4).[4]

His painting “The Last Rays of Day” won the James Torrance Memorial Prize in 1947 at the Royal Glasgow Institute.[10] His work is represented in the collections of a number of galleries, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum[4] and the State Art Collection of the Art Gallery of Western Australia.[6]

Other Activities

A native speaker of Gaelic, Whyte was an ardent supporter of the Gaelic language and adjudicated at many Mòds. For a number of years he was president of the Ceilidh nan Gaidheal, Glasgow.[5]

Death

He died aged 86, in Oban, on December 3, 1953.[11]

Known Works

Dugald McIsaac, Provost of Oban (1905–1908), Oban Municipal Buildings[12]

The Artist's Son Bunty, The Shinty Boy, The Corran Halls, Oban[13]

Stalla Hunisgeir, Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)[14]

Professor Thorpe Davie, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum[15]

Malcolm Macleod, Museum nan Eilean[16]

Cottars on 'The Land', University of Edinburgh[17]

Harvesting Potatoes, Red Tam, University of Edinburgh[18]

The Last Rays of Day, Library Headquarters, Dunoon[19]

The beach at Perth, The Art Gallery of Western Australia[20]

References

  1. ↑ "1866 WHYTE, DUNCAN MCGREGOR (Statutory registers Births 523/ 28)". Statutory registers Births 1866. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Daphne Hamilton and Alexander Fenton (Editors) (1998). Scottish Studies, The Journal of the School of Scottish Studies University of Edinburgh, Vol 32. 1993-1998. Tuckwell Press Ltd. p. vi. ISBN 1-898410-45-3.
  3. ↑ The Oban Times (Newspaper) 12th December 1953
  4. 1 2 3 Peter J.M. McEwan (1994). The Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture. Antique Collectors' Club. p. 605. ISBN 1 85149 134 1.
  5. 1 2 3 The Oban Times (Newspaper) 12th December 1953
  6. 1 2 "Duncan McGregor WHYTE". Art Gallery WA Collection Online.
  7. ↑ Alan McCulloch (1984). Encyclopdeia of Australian Art Volume 2 L-Z. Hutchinson of Australia. p. 1291. ISBN 0 09 148250.
  8. ↑ "WASA Notable Artists – WASA".
  9. ↑ "1905 WHYTE, DUNCAN M (Valuation Rolls VR008900051-/499, ARGYLL COUNTY)". Valuation Rolls 1905. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  10. ↑ The Oban Times (Newspaper) 13th December 1947
  11. ↑ "1953 WHYTE, DUNCAN MCGREGOR (Statutory registers Deaths 523/ 115)". statutory registers Deaths 1953. ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Dugald McIsaac, Provost of Oban (1905–1908) | Art UK". artuk.org.
  13. ↑ "The Artist's Son Bunty, The Shinty Boy | Art UK". artuk.org.
  14. ↑ "Stalla Hunisgeir | Art UK". artuk.org.
  15. ↑ "Professor Thorpe Davie | Art UK". artuk.org.
  16. ↑ "Malcolm Macleod | Art UK". artuk.org.
  17. ↑ "No. 2, Cottars on 'The Land' | Art UK". artuk.org.
  18. ↑ "No. 6, Harvesting Potatoes, Red Tam | Art UK". artuk.org.
  19. ↑ "The Last Rays of Day | Art UK". artuk.org.
  20. ↑ "The beach at Perth". Art Gallery WA Collection Online.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.