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Disgorging the Fly
Disgorging the Fly

Disgorging the Fly

Artist (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1817 - 1867)
Sitter
Date1841
Mediumoil on board
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
Dimensions30.4 x 20.2cm
Frame Size: 39.9 x 29.7 x 4.5cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 2005.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG014341
About MeAn inscription on the reverse of this painting identifies the young fisherman as James Maitland Wardrop, who later became an architect. The faint inscription in the top left corner gives the location and the date, Mill Den, 5 September 1841. Mill Den was at Brechin Castle, which belonged to Phillip's sponsor, Lord Panmure. The boy, James Maitland Wardrop, wears a black peaked cap with a heather sprig, light overcoat and fishing waders. He is portrayed carefully extracting a fly from the mouth of the fish that he has just caught.

John Phillip was a keen fisherman and may well have joined the fishing party whilst staying with Lord Panmure and his other house guests. He paints this delicate study with care, paying particular detail to the boy's fishing accoutrements - including his rod and creel.

More About Me
The young fisherman was James Maitland Wardrop, later an architect. This was painted at Brechin Castle, whose owner Lord Panmure, was Phillip's sponsor