Scottish Angling Fishing Oil Painting – “Burn Trout” by James B. Russell, c.1914

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Description

Antique Framed Scottish Angling Fishing Sporting Oil Painting – “Burn Trout” by James B. Russell, c.1914

Subject and Medium
Early … Read more Antique Framed Scottish Angling Fishing Sporting Oil Painting – “Burn Trout” by James B. Russell, c.1914

Subject and Medium
Early 20th-century sporting still life, oil on canvas. Two brown trout spill from a wicker creel onto the bank of Culroy Burn in Ayrshire, Scotland. Russell’s use of oil paint enables rich colour, subtle tonal shifts, and detailed naturalistic effects across the fish and landscape.

Composition and Technique
Two trout lie diagonally across a green riverbank, freshly tipped from a brown creel. A nearby stream and wooded bank are suggested in the background, giving atmosphere without distracting from the main subject. The fish are carefully observed: silvery bellies, spotted flanks, and delicate gradations of tone and texture create a convincing sense of weight and sheen. The creel and ground are handled more loosely, balancing realism with painterly softness and depth.

Subject Matter
“Burn Trout” records a typical angling catch from Culroy Burn, a tributary of the River Doon near Minishant in South Ayrshire. The specific location adds regional interest for collectors of Scottish sporting art, angling pictures, and Ayrshire estate subjects.

Historical Importance
A strong example of Edwardian sporting art, rooted in a notable family tradition of fish painting. James B. Russell (1867–1956) was born in Edinburgh and grew up immersed in the Russell family’s specialist craft of rendering fish with remarkable fidelity. His father, John Bucknell Russell (1819–1893), was known for carved and painted salmon made to exact measurements for wealthy patrons, including commissions connected to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. The Russell workshop developed a niche for realistic depictions of trophy fish and sporting subjects, and James carried this tradition into the early 20th century with a more atmospheric approach to landscape and setting.

About the Artist
James B. Russell was both a painter and an avid angler. After his father’s death, he moved with his family to Glasgow around 1900 and later to Roxburghshire in 1918, continuing to paint fish subjects throughout his life. His works are commonly signed “J. B. Russell,” which can cause attribution confusion because his father used the same initials. James’s pictures generally date from the late Victorian through inter-war period and often combine detailed fish painting with softer, more suggestive backgrounds.

Signature
Signed “J. B. Russell” in red in the lower corner. The signature, subject matter, and 1914 date support attribution to James rather than John.
Size
Canvas: approximately 46.5 × 73 cm.

Frame: 45.5 cm high × 55.5 cm wide × 6 cm depth.
Frame
Presented in a moulded gilt frame bearing the trade label Weir & Clyde – Carvers & Gilders, 463 Eglinton Street, Glasgow. The label supports early 20th-century Glasgow framing and complements the painting’s period character.

Provenance
Private collection, UK
Weir & Clyde gilder’s label affixed to the reverse
Art dealer in Leominster
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Why You’ll Love It
Distinctive narrative: a freshly landed catch on a Scottish riverbank
Strong decorative impact: rich greens, warm creel tones, and luminous fish detail
Collectors’ appeal: Scottish angling subject with clear regional story
Heritage value: connected to the Russell family’s specialist tradition of fish painting
Period charm: original gilt frame with a Glasgow trade label

Collectability and Appeal
Authentic sporting subject with Scottish angling heritage
Scarcity factor: works confidently attributable to James B. Russell are less commonly encountered
Interior-ready: ideal for country houses, sporting lodges, libraries, and traditional or eclectic interiors
Strong display presence: realistic trout and rustic creel create an immediate focal point See less