92 OLD AND NEW EDINBURGH. [The Mound.
design, which shall consist of two departments : the
m e appropriated to the remains of ancient sculpture,
and the other to the study of living models.
From that time matters went on peacefully and
pleasantly till 1844, when 8 dispute about entrance
to their galleries ensued with the subordinates of
the Board of Manufactures, in whose building they
were-a dispute ultimately smoothed over. In
1847 another ensued between the directors of the
Royal Institution and the Academy, which led to
some acritnonious correspondence ; but all piques
and jealousies between the Academy and the Royal
Institution were ended by the erection of the Art
Galleries, founded in 1850.
Six months before that event Sir William Allan,
the second president, died on the 2 2nd of February,
after occupying the presidential chair for thirteen
years with much ability. It is to be regretted that
no such good example of his genius as his ?? Death
of Rizzio? finds a place in the Scottish National
Gallery, his principal work there being his large
unfinished picture of the ?? Battle of Bannockburn,?
a patriotic labour of love, showing few of the best
qualities of his master-hand, as it was painted
literally when he was dying. ?TO those who were
with Sir William in his latter days it was sadly
interesting to see him wrapped up in blankets,
cowering by his easel, with this great canvas
stretched out before him, labouring on it assiduously,
it may be truly said, till the day on which he
died,? writes a brother artist, who has since
followed him. ? The constant and only companion
uf his studio, a long-haired, glossy Skye terrier, on
his master?s death, refused to be comforted, to eat,
.or to live.?
His successor was Sir John Watson, who added
the name of Gordon to his own. He was the son of
Captain JamesWatson, RN., who served in Admiral
Digby?s squadron during the first American war,
Among his earlier works were the ? Shipwrecked
Sailor,? ? Queen Margaret and the Robber,? ?A
Boy with a Rabbit,? ?The Sleeping Boy and
Watching Girl? (his own brother and sister); but it
was as a painter of portraits strictly that he made
his high reputation; though it is said that the
veteran, his father, when looking at the ? Venus and
Adonis ? of Paul Veronese, declared it ? hard as
flints,? adding, ?I wouldn?t give my Johnny?s
? Shipwrecked Sailor? for a shipload of such.?
In early life he lived with his father in 27 Anne
Street, which he left regularly every morning at
nine o?clock, ?and walking down the beautidul
and picturesque footpath that skirted the bank
af the Water of Leith, he passed St. Bernard?s,
where almost invariably he was joined by the
portly figure of Sir Henry Raeburn. Engaged in
conversation, no doubt beneficial to the younger
but rising artist, they proceeded to Edinburgh-
Raeburn to his gallery and painting-room, No. 32
York Place, and John Watson to his apartments
in the first flat of No. 19 South St. David Street,
or, latterly, 24 South Frederick Street.??
During his presidency the Art Galleries were
completed and opened. By the Act 13 and 14
Vict., cap. 86, the entire building and property were
vested in the Board of Manufactures, as well as the
appropriation of the buildings when completed,
subject to the approbation of the Treasury, without
the sanction of which no fee for admittance
was to be charged on any occasion, except to the
annual exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy.
?The general custody and maintenance of the
whole building shall be vested in the Board of
Manufactures,?? says the Government minute of
28th February, 1858 ; ?but the Royal Scottish
Academy shall have the entire charge of the councilroom
and library and of the exhibition galleries
during their annual exhibitions.?
After continuing in the exercise of his profession
until within a few weeks of his death, Sir John
Watson died at his house in George Street, 1st
June, 1864, in his seventy-sixth year, having been
born in 1788.
He was succeeded as president and trustee by
Sir George Harvey, born in Stirlingshire in 1805,
and well known as a painter successfully of historical
subjects and fabZeaux de genre, many of them
connected with the stirring events of the Covenant
He became a Scottish Academician in 1829, since
when his popularity spread far and wide by the
dissemination of numerous engravings from his
works. He was president only twelve years, and
died at Edinburgh on the zznd of January, 1876, in
his seventy-first year.
He was succeeded by Sir Daniel Macnee, R.S.A.,
who was also born in Stirlingshire in 1806, and
began early to study at the Trustees? Academy with
Duncan, Lauder, Scott, and other artists of native
repute. He rapidly became a favourite portrait
painter in both countries, and his famous portrait
of the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw won a gold medal at the
Paris International Exhibition of 1855. He has
painted many of the most prominent men of the
time, among them Lord Brougham for the College
of Justice at Edinburgh.
In connection with Scottish art we may here
refer to the Spalding Fund, of which the directors
of the Royal Institution were constituted trustees
by the will of Peter Spalding, who died in 1826,
leaving property, ? the interest or annual proceeds
