An early work by Hornel is now hanging at the National Trust for Scotland’s Broughton House in Kirkcudbright, after the conservation charity acquired the piece for its collection.
The purchase of Harvesting, one of EA Hornel’s earlier works was made possible thanks to the generous support of Art Fund, National Museums Scotland National Fund for Acquisitions, Friends of Broughton House, Galloway Members’ Group and individual donors.
The National Trust for Scotland has cared for Broughton House, Hornel’s home and studio, since 1997. The pretty Georgian house boasts a fantastic collection of the Glasgow Boy’s work and gives a unique insight into his life and works.
Property Manager Sheila Faichney said:
“We are so pleased to welcome Harvesting home. We are lucky to hold an outstanding collection of Hornel’s work, but have relatively few early pieces. This is an excellent addition and will enable us to show visitors how his style developed over the years, as well as providing an insight into the heritage and history of the area.”
Broughton House’s artworks were re-hung to accommodate the painting and to help add to the visitor’s understanding, appreciation and wider context of Hornel’s work.
Sheila continued: “Harvesting is an outstanding example and features the rural theme that captured the imagination of him and many of his contemporaries. We’re emphasising this to visitors by hanging Harvesting close to A Cottar’s Garden by George Henry, who presents his own take on a similar subject.”
Stephen Deuchar, Art Fund director, added:
“There could be no better place for Harvesting than Broughton House, Hornel’s former home. We are delighted to have helped.”
Curators have also been hard at work at Broughton House digitising photographic archive material from the artist’s original glass plate negatives. With the help of the Morton Charitable Trust, photographs have been re-printed and hung alongside Hornel’s artworks and over 1,600 images have been digitised, many of which can be seen at the property and will soon be available online.
EA Hornel lived in Broughton House from 1901. The house is packed to the rafters with his paintings, as well as his vast library, which includes one of the world’s biggest collections of works by Robert Burns. The studio looks out on to Hornel’s Japanese-influenced garden, which backs on to the River Dee. A beautiful, colourful, tranquil place to wander round, it combines Eastern horticulture and elements of a traditional cottage garden, including water features and sculpture.
