Landscape Oil Painting by Sir David Murray RA

A fantastic oil on artist board by the highly regarded artist Sir David Murray (RA 1849-1933). A superb work that depicts an extensive highland landscape probably on the coast. In the distance can be seen boats hauled onto the beach and in the foreground a man struggles under the weight of his load of bracken or sticks, as his dog waits patiently in front for him to catch up. The work is most likely a study painted plein air and the technique uses thick impasto paint in an impressionist manner. The use of colour is wonderful with a really bright and light feel. The painting is in excellent condition and is signed to the lower right. Sir David Murray (RA 1849-1933) was a highly important Scottish landscape painter often compared to Turner. He was the son of a shoemaker and worked for eleven years for two mercantile firms. He managed to work and study in the evenings at the Glasgow School of Art under Robert Greenlees. He was finally able to devote himself full-time to an artistic career from about 1875. He became an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1881, and moved to London in 1882 where he was an immediate success. His 'My Love has gone a-Sailing' exhibited in 1884 was purchased by the Chantrey Trustees for the Tate Gallery. In 1891 Murray was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy, and a full member of the Royal Academy in 1905. About 1886 he broadened his horizons and travelled to the continent, but all of his more characteristic work was done in Scotland or England. Murray was a member of Glasgow Art Club and exhibited in the club's annual exhibitions. He became president of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in succession to Sir James Linton in 1917, the year before he was knighted in 1918. Murray did not marry and during the whole of his life in London, he occupied the same bachelor's quarters, a studio on Portland Place. This painting is an interesting piece in his catalogue as much of his Scottish work comes from his early period however, he does seem to have travelled and worked in Scotland around 1925 and I think this is when this work will have been created, it also shows his later influence of Impressionism after travelling on the continent. The painting is framed in a very good quality modern frame which works exceptionally well and gives the whole piece a lighter feel.