Mason Hunter ARSA 1854-1921

Mr. Mason Hunter was born at Broxburn, Linlithgowshire, in 1854, and there and at Dr. Begg’s School, Newington, he received his earlier education.

As a boy he attended the ornamental department of the Trustees’ School then under the direction of Mr. Morley, passing, later, to the Antique as a pupil of Mr. Hodder.

Hunter commenced his professional Art life as a wood engraver, at a time when the outlook for that department of the profession was none too bright. and after a year or two with an establishment prominent in the craft here, and a further experience on the Graphic engraving staff. London, the poor prospects ahead would doubtless accentuate his rising inclinations to be a painter.

To this end, like most aspiring students of those days he spent some time in Paris studying at the Académie Colarossi, and transferring to canvas or notebook the picturesque features of the city, or, further afield, those of Fontainebleau and Barbizon. There he made the acquaint- ance of a son of Jean Francois Millet, with whose name and works the locality is indelibly associated.

It is somewhat difficult to follow the young painter’s movements during those years, for all through Hunter gives an Edinburgh address in the catalogues of the Academy’s Exhibition to which he first contributed in 1879. But as the titles for the first two years suggest an Knelish origin, whilst from 1882 his subjects are mainly Scottish, one may infer that the years 1878-80 cover the time he spent on the Graphic staff and in Paris.

“On the Seine, Notre Dame,” and “ Chailly Church, near Barbizon,” water colours, were shown a year or two later, the first named being purchased by the Association for the Pro- motion of the Fine Arts in Scotland. Shortly after his permanent return to Scotland a yachting cruise on the Clyde and adjacent waters with artist and lay friends attracted him to the illustration of the Scottish seaboard, enlivened often by the introduction of the herring fleet.

Though by no means confining his practice to this vein, such incidents as the departure or return of the fishing boats of Loch Fyne or St. Monans furnished him with subjects through a long period of years, and by these he will be best remembered. Technically his colour gamut was limited—of a silvery grey which he handled with fine artistic effect on the smooth or troubled waters of our eastern or western shores.

Mr. Hunter, notwithstanding his shy and somewhat reticent disposition, was a universal favourite amongst his brother artists, whose social gatherings he much frequented and enjoyed. For some years past he had been in an enfeebled condition of health, and for more than a year before his death he was incapacitated from any serious work.

So far back as 1896 Mr. Hunter had been elected a member of the Scottish Water Colour Society, and some years earlier he had taken part in the formation of the Society of Scottish Artists, of which he was chairman in 1907. In 1913 Mr. Hunter was elected Associate of the Academy. He died on 31st January.

RSA Obituary by J. Lawson Wingate. Transcribed from the 1921 RSA Annual Report