The Scottish National Gallery Shows George Bain ~ Master of Modern Celtic Art

Written by Angus McFadden Thursday, 20 October 2011 23:25

Edinburgh.- The Scottish National Gallery is proud to present "George Bain: Master of Modern Celtic Art" on view at the gallery until February 13th 2012. This exhibition, produced in partnership with Groam House Museum, Rosemarkie, presents a unique display devoted to the Scottish artist often referred to as the “father of modern Celtic design.” George Bain was a key figure in the revival of Celtic art in the 20th century and devoted much of his life to the study of the intricate decorative designs used by ancient Picts and Celts. Demonstrating the artist’s great versatility, this display will feature a selection of some 55 items, including watercolours, drawings, sculptures and jewellery, as well as archival material and objects made to Bain’s designs. Much of the material has never have been on public display before.

George Bain (1881-1968) was born in Scrabster, in the northeast of Scotland. His family was on the point of emigrating, their ship docked in Leith Port, en route to Canada, when an encounter with a cousin convinced his father to stay in Edinburgh. Bain went on to study at Edinburgh’s School of Applied Art, Edinburgh College of Art, and the Royal College of Art, London before taking the post of Principal Art Teacher at Kirkcaldy High School, which he held until his retirement in 1946. Throughout his long career he exhibited frequently across Scotland, in institutions such as the Royal Scottish Academy as well as London and Paris. Bain dedicated himself to studying the complex techniques adopted by Picts and Celts who produced intricate designs on rural stones, sophisticated metalwork and jewellery, as well as medieval illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. Bain cleverly devised mathematical frameworks that taught people the ancient principles which underlie these works, whilst still allowing for creative designs. Bain’s applied maxim was always “Theory may inform but Practice convinces”. His manual 'Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction' is still the most influential book on this subject and has been in print continuously since 1972. "Master of Modern Celtic Art" documents Bain’s early artistic training in Edinburgh and highlights his experimentation with printmaking and drawing techniques. Immensely detailed sketches, watercolours and prints will be on display as well as actual objects adapted from his own designs, such as the Celtic ‘Hunting’ design which has featured on rugs and carpets since 1948. His manual will be on display in various editions and languages and examples of articles written by and about him will also be included.


George Bain’s beautiful craftsmanship complements the work of other artists that feature in the National collection, such as Phoebe Anna Traquair and John Duncan, who shared his passion for the Scottish Arts and Crafts movement at the start of the early twentieth century. Bain’s art, and in particular his teaching manual, has continued the Celtic renaissance and allows for the art form still to be practised today. Groam House Museum is a small independent, award-winning museum supported by The Highland Council. The museum is situated in the Black Isle village of Rosemarkie, fifteen miles north east of Inverness; it houses an internationally important collection of Pictish sculpture and Celtic art. The George Bain Collection was donated to the museum by Bain’s family in 1998. In 2008 Groam House Museum benefitted from a prestigious Heritage Lottery Fund Collecting Cultures Award of £99,000. These funds are being used specifically to develop the George Bain Collection and put Bain into the context of the Celtic Art Revival.

The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens. The building, which was designed by William Henry Playfair, first opened to the public in 1859. The National Gallery shares the Mound with the Royal Scottish Academy Building. In 1912 both were remodelled by William Thomas Oldrieve. When it re-opened, the gallery concentrated on building its permanent collection of Scottish and European art for the nation. The research facilities at the National Gallery include the Prints and Drawings Collection of over 30,000 works on paper, from the early Renaissance to the late nineteenth century; and the reference-only Research Library, which is open to the general public. The Research Library covers the period from 1300 to 1900 and holds approximately 50,000 volumes of books, journals, slides, and microfiches, as well as some archival material relating to the collections, exhibitions and history of the National Gallery. It is advisable to contact the Print Room or Research Library prior to visiting to ensure staff and space availability. The Weston Link, an underground interconnection between the two buildings and the final phase of the Playfair Project, opened August 2004. This contains a lecture theatre, education area, shop, restaurant and an interactive, touch-screen IT Gallery showing the collections of the National Galleries. Between the two buildings is a modern square, affording views of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street. At the heart of the National Gallery's collection is a group of paintings transferred from the Royal Scottish Academy Building. This includes masterpieces by Jacopo Bassano, Van Dyck and Giambattista Tiepolo. The National Gallery did not receive its own purchase grant until 1903. Visit the museums' website at ... http://www.nationalgalleries.org

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