Robert Noble RSA 1857-1917

As with his cousin, young Noble's talent first took the direction of figure painting, as is indicated by the title of his earliest contribution to the Academy, "The Young Bird Catcher," 1877, and by those of the years immediately following, "The Smiddy Corner," "Whup the Cat," and "A Tale of Dangers Past."

But almost from the commencement these were interspersed with canvases prophetic of his subsequent development. Visits to France which he seems about this time to have made annually, furnished him with architectural and orchard subjects from the quaint old towns of Normandy and their environs, which, with a home landscape or two, were exhibited between the years 1879 and 1883.

But the event which led on to Mr. Noble's later development, and which will make him remembered as a Landscape Painter, was, undoubtedly, his removal to East Linton about thirty years ago. Henceforth his devotion to the little East Lothian burg, and to the haughs and fields of the lower Tyne, was like that of Constable to his beloved Deedham.

Seldom indeed, during this later half of his life, did Noble seek for other inspiration than that furnished by the undulating cornlands of his adopted district, as seen under the varying phases of the rural year. For variety he had the river with its picturesque lynn and the willow-bordered meadows, whilst a few miles to the westward, in the time of blossom, the orchards of Redhouse enabled him to develop a vein he had first worked during his early visits to Normandy.

Apart from his reputation as a painter, Mr. Noble had earned for himself, in more than one direction, a unique position in the Scottish Art world. While still a young man he was one of the leaders in the movement which resulted in the formation of the "Society of Scottish Artists," and he was its first President. Elected to the Associateship of the Academy shortly thereafter (1892), he remained a loyal supporter of both bodies, and ultimately, as an Academician (1903), did yeoman service during a series of years both to the Academy and to Scottish artists generally, through the skill he attained in the arranging of Exhibitions.

For this delicate and difficult duty he was much in request both at home and abroad. This he owed to the broad and tolerant view he took of the various manifestations Art has assumed in these later years, and to the kindly and impartial consideration he gave to the followers of the successive movements. Noble was a frequent exhibitor at the various International Exhibitions held during recent years in this country and on the Continent.

A silver medal was awarded to him at the Edinburgh International of 1886, and a bronze medal at Paris in 1900. Of a quiet and unassuming manner, Mr. Noble was a general favourite, alike within and outside the Academy and local Art Circles. He died suddenly at his residence in East Linton on the morning of Saturday, 12th May.

RSA Obituary, transcribed from the 1917 RSA Annual Report