Samuel Peploe and the Scottish Colourists

1. Samuel Peploe and the Scottish Colourists Fergusson Peploe Cadell Fergusson

2. Samuel Peploe and the Scottish Colourists • Samuel Peploe was a passionate and serious artist who devoted himself to his oil painting. • He had a powerful influence on a wide circle of people, including many artists of the next generation. • He was born in Edinburgh and educated at the Collegate School • in Charlotte Square. • He had good academic ability but no interest in the professions, • preferring to walk, sail or sketch. • By 1893 he had enrolled for classes at the Trustees Academy • (the forerunner to Edinburgh School of Art). • He then went to Paris at the Académie Julian and later at • the Académie Colarossi.

3. Samuel Peploe and the Scottish Colourists • He began a lifelong habit of taking painting trips to Northern France and the • Western Isles and in particular IONA, accompanied by J D Fergusson whom • he had met in Paris. • Peploe first painted on the island of Iona in 1920 with fellow Scottish Colourist • F.C.B. Cadell, and the two artists returned together most summers. • Peploe was particularly fond of the rocky northern end of the island and its views • towards Mull. • Fascinated by the artistic possibilities of the island’s light and dramatic, • changeable weather, Iona became a favourite motif for Peploe, as he painted • it in all weathers and abandoned the warm colours of his still-lifes for a • palette of cool greens and blues. • While the island became a sanctuary for him,a world away from life in • Edinburgh, its picture-postcard scenery also meant that his paintings were • readily saleable.

4. Samuel Peploe and the Scottish Colourists • He was successful in exhibiting his work and regularly submitted paintings to the • Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Glasgow Institute and the Society of Scottish Artists. • His first one-man show was held at the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh in 1903. • By 1906 his earlier still life and figure paintings, characterised by dark backgrounds, • gave way to paler colours, greys and pinks. • This was in part due to a move to a new lighter studio in the East end of Edinburgh • at York Place, from his previous west-end base at Shandwick Place. • His second exhibition in 1909 was successful but his eyes were turning to Paris and • the next year, he moved to France with his new wife, Margaret MacKay, whom he had • met on a painting trip to the Isle of Barra in 1894. • For the next fifteen years Peploe retained a brilliant palette, evolving a mature style • containing elements of Cezanne’s and Matisse’s paint technique. • By the late 1920s he had reverted to a darker tonal style of painting,with some • brilliant colour areas.

5. Samuel Peploe and the Scottish Colourists • In 1933 he taught two terms at Edinburgh • College of Art making quite an impact. • Best known for his still life paintings of • roses or tulips, Peploe had a wide range of • subjects including figure and landscape painting. • From 1914 he was a regular visitor to • Dumfries and Galloway, particularly • Kirkcudbright and also from 1919 onwards • to the isle of IONA. • On the recommendation of Cadell he visited • Cassis in the South of France in 1924, • and returned in 1928 and 1930. • LINK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3Do-cIefZI