"A Calm Day" - Loch Na Keal, Iona by William Mervyn Glass, r.s.a., p.s.s.A.

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Serene depiction of Loch Na Keal, Iona, Scotland by William Mervyn Glass, Royal Scottish Academy and Scottish Academy of Artists … Read more Serene depiction of Loch Na Keal, Iona, Scotland by William Mervyn Glass, Royal Scottish Academy and Scottish Academy of Artists (PSSA,SSA) (Scottish, 1885-1965). Looking toward Loch Na Keal, Iona; a pale beach covers the foreground of this piece, immediately placing the viewer in the setting. Looking out across the teal water, cliffs and rocks frame the painting, crowned by a cloudy grey blue sky. Glass' confident brushstrokes are particularly evident in the rock formations, indicating his familiarity with the setting.

Initialed and dated in the lower right corner ("W.M.G. 30 Aug 1924")
Inscribed on verso with the title, artist's name, location, and date.
Gallery tag on verso from Doic, Wilson, & Wheatley Fine Art Dealers.
Presented in a white wood frame with a linen and gold liner, and glass (the glass pane is not in contact with the artwork)
Board size: 15.25"H x 18.25"W

Painter of the Scottish Highlands and Islands who studied at Aberdeen School of Art and Royal Scottish Academy Life School. As well as being a member of RSA and president from 1930–3 of SSA, showed at RA, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts and Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Was a member of the Edinburgh Group and lived in the city for many years.
A painter of coastal scenes, seascapes and landscapes, he was particularly fond of painting Iona, where he would paint alongside Maclauchlane Milne, Cadell and Peploe.

Glass refused to teach and committed his time to painting and he said: 'The thing that gets me is that 9/10 ths of the painters in Scotland have to beg for their bread and butter. In their spare time and during holidays they squeeze in enough time to do some real painting'.

His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Glasgow Institute and Aberdeen Artists' Society. He was awarded the Maclaine-Watters bronze medal and Chalmers Jervise prize.

Glass usually signed his work with his initials 'WMG'.
Island of Iona: An island in the Inner Hebrides, lying just off of Mull, Iona is a tiny piece of land, measuring just 6 km long by 2 km wide. However, Iona’s tiny size does not reflect its meaning or relevance to Scotland. Aesthetically beautiful and historically important, Iona is famous for its beautiful abbey and for being something of a symbolic centre of Scottish Christianity. Today, with its white sandy beaches, beautiful scenery and protected wildlife, Iona actively promotes ecotourism and is a fair-trade island. With a population of 200, the main settlement on the island is known colloquially as The Village.

His work won awards such as the Maclaine-Watters bronze medal and the Chalmers Jervise prize and he painted chiefly in Iona and Scottish Highlands. He exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy and other national institutions. See less