William McTaggart RSA 1835-1910

In William M'Taggart the Academy has lost one of its oldest and most distinguished members. In the last Annual Report reference was made to the jubilee of Mr M‘Tagegart’s connection with the Academy, his election to Associate rank having taken place in November 1859. Before the Report was issued the Academy had to mourn his loss.

Born in the neighbourhood of Campbeltown, Areylshire, in 1835, Mr. M‘Taggart at an early age showed leanings towards the vocation in which, later, he was to attain so great a reputation. After a few years’ apprenticeship to a chemist in Campbeltown, during which his leisure hours were devoted to chalk drawing and painting in oils, he became a student at the Trustees’ Academy under Robert Seott Lauder, and embarked on his artistic career.

His earlier exhibited works show strongly the influence of the naturalistic movement which was then affecting contemporary painting both Nort and South of the Tweed. Rural scenes, in which both landscape and figure were treated in a distinctly individual manner, furnished the motives for such pictures as “The Old Pathway ” (1862). “The Villave Appleman ” and “The Old Well” (1863).

Of subjects borrowed directly from literature—so popular  then— Mr. M‘Taggart was sparing, his Diploma picture “Dora” (1870), being the best known of his few essays in that direction.

But the sea and seafaring life, which were to supply the motive of so manyof the ablest works of in “Going to Sea” (1859), and “The Wreck of the Hesperus” (1861), and when with more matured powers M‘Tageart’s prime and later years, were early foreshadowed his brush became broader and fuller, the unstable elements of sky and water lent themselves most readily to a technique which dealt with light and colour rather than with more material things.

So, from 1870 till towards the close of the century, M‘Tagegart found his inspiration by the grey North Sea at Carnoustie, or amongst the Atlantic breakers of his native Cantyre, and a long list of works both in Oil and Water Colour depicting the sea underits various aspects, might be named as indicating his untiring industry and versatile talent.

From time to time he painted portraits, those of the Rev. John Black (1880), Mr. Vaterson (1885), his daughter Jean as “ La Belle,’ and of Mrs. Wm. Laurie being amongst the most notable.

Mr. M‘Taggart was elected Academician in 1870, and in 1879 he succeeded Mr. Bough as Vice-President of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Water Colour. Whilst resident in Edinburgh he identified himself with the various Art movements and Associations in our midst.

After his removal to the country about 1890 Mr, M‘Tageart lived a more retired life, though he was always accessible to his friends and brother Artists, with whom his kindly and genial disposition made him a great favourite. He died on 2nd April at his residence, Dean Park, Broomieknowe.

RSA Obituary transcribed from the 1910 RSA Annual Report