ID?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Not an art historian by any means, but a kilt historian yes. Which means an interest in historic depictions on the kilt, like this one.

Take a look at this larger version.


Notice anything different about the kilt? Like oh, say, pleats in the front? :-)

There is also a fair amount of over-painting visible; originally MacDonald was wearing his bonnet, and his sword was held in his right hand, point downward. You can also see over-painting to the figure's left, where the painter had the sword hanging from the baldric. I can't help but wonder if these changes were at MacDonald's insistence. Likewise, I wonder what we could learn about the missing head-gear if the painting were subjected to x-ray analysis.

[sharpdressedscot]

Wow, I didn't notice that 'til now. Would there be some sort of significance? Or maybe he just didn't like it?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well, if you look closely at the clouds to the left of the figure you will see the ghostly image of a coat of arms-- again, without the benefit of an x-ray, it is impossible to say with any certainty if these are the arms of Macdonald of Sleat, or of some other, unknown sitter.

To my mind three things are possible:

1) Sleat didn't care for the picture and it was re-done several times until he was satisfied;
2) The original sitter wasn't Sleat, and his portrait was painted over that of the original sitter;
3) This was a "studio canvas" with a generic nobleman sketched in, only to be painted over when a client was found who wished a similar style painting.

The arms are the intriguing bit-- Chalmer's father was Ross Herald (and a herald painter) in the Court of the Lord Lyon so Chalmer would have been au fait with Sleat's heraldry and in all likelihood would have included his arms in the painting, as was sometimes the practice of that time.

But, without the benefit of an x-ray, we will probably never know...

[Rex_Tremende]

But, without the benefit of an x-ray, we will probably never know...

Actually, it's been done, but it was an embarrassment to the family, and the results have been suppressed for a decade or so.

Hope that clears things up,
Rex.