Robert Napier and his Art Collection

STIRLING OBSERVER, THURSDAY 19 MARCH 1846

THE FINE ARTS IN SCOTLAND (FROM THE LITERARY GAZETTE).

In a late trip to Scotland, I was much gratified to find that a number of rich and eminent inhabitants of Glasgow and its neighbourhood had devoted much time and money to the collection of fine original paintings by the old masters. Most of these recently formed collections I have seen, and must say they exhibit very correct taste and judgement.

The villa and grounds of West Shandon, in the Gareloch, the residence of Robert Napier, Esq, form a delightful retreat, that Macaenas might envy. The gallery and music-room was in the true Italian style; the ceiling is rich in arabesque and gilding, and harmonises well with the pictures and articles of vertu contained in this truly superb salon. 

Among the many fine pictures in the gallery may be particularly noticed a splendid specimen by Bernardo Lanini; it represents the Virgin and Child surrounded with saints. The works of this artist have seldom left the churches for which they were originally painted, being held in the very highest estimation throughout Italy, and generally considered equal to the works of Le Da Vinci. There are also several fine examples by Murillo and Titian; the principal Dutch picture is a waterfall of large dimensions, by J Ruysdael, in his very best manner; the roar of the torrent, as it dashes amongst the rocks, crowned by lofty pines and a ruined castle, comes vividly to the mind, while viewing this superb work of art. This picture was brought to England by Col. Knight about sixty years ago, and remained in that gentleman’s mansion till very lately.

There is also a rare example of art in the truly magnificent sea-piece, by L Backhuysen, lately purchased at the sale of Cardinal Feschi’s pictures at Rome; the subject is a sudden squall, during which two brigs ran foul of each other, a gleam of sunshine shoots out of the lowering sky, and falling upon the yellow sails of a Dutch barge in the foreground, gives a charming effect to the picture. 

The remaining portion of this small collection is of uniform good quality, and in high preservation.