A long lost painting of Glasgow Fair has been acquired by Glasgow’s Museums and will go on show at the beginning of February in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Conservator Polly Smith has worked on the John Knox ‘Glasgow Fair’ painting to make it ready for public display.
Photograph by Ian Watson
The exquisitely detailed picture was painted by John Knox, a famous artist of very big canvases, around 1819- 1822. It shows around 1000 people in fine detail on Glasgow Green attending the annual Glasgow Fair.
There are booths, sideshows and rides with people having a good time in and around the stalls and activities. The figures show rich and poor, soldiers from different regiments, street vendors, beggars, merchants, pick pockets, men watching a cock fight and a woman trying to drag her drunk husband away from a seller of alcohol. There are twins in matching clothes and a sign for Mr Taylor’s Olympic Circus which advertises slack wire, tight rope dancing, theatrical and horsemanship displays. A travelling menagerie called Wombwell’s Grand Collection of Beasts, is also seen. An anti-slavery booth is included in the fun of the Fair.
The painting was thought to be missing for more than 100 years. Then, in 2013 in Sotheby’s in London, it was sold as depicting a fair in Aberdeen by an Irish artist William Turner de Lond. Later it was recognised as the work of John Knox because of the landmark Nelson Monument on Glasgow Green which is seen in the background.
No purchase price has been revealed but it was bought with generous support of the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Trustees of the Hamilton Bequest and Friends of Glasgow Museums.
Said Councillor Archie Graham, Chair of Glasgow Life: ‘John Knox’s Glasgow Fair is a painting that belongs to Glasgow and we are delighted to welcome it home. It shows Glaswegians enjoying themselves at the Glasgow Fair in the city’s oldest park. It also helps us understand the historical importance of a holiday many of us still enjoy every July.’
The acquisition is supported by the Showman’s Guild of Great Britain. They recognise the importance of the painting in demonstrating the contribution of the history and heritage of travelling Showpeople to the development of the city.
The display will be complimented by a programme of events and activities including storytelling, creative writing, multi-sensory workshops, school visits, specialist talks and family weekends. For more information visit: www.glasgowmuseums.com
