Description
Sketch of Spittal Street in Stirling from the lower end of the street, looking up with houses visible on both sides. Most of the buildings are whitewashed, but some are painted in pinkish-grey or brown, and one in a cream colour. A white building on the left has crow-steps on the gable end. Three small roughly sketched figures show the scale. Jane Anne Wright was an artist of some talent with an interest in history and antiquities. She was born into a moderately wealthy Stirling family with many historical links to the area. One of three sisters, she became disabled after a childhood accident which rendered her housebound and immobile. She never married and like her sister Isabella, found fulfillment through sketching and keeping a journal, documenting her visits to some of of the great houses and mansions of Stirlingshire. Born and brought up in St.Vincent Street, Glasgow, most of her family ties were in the Stirling area, and on the death of her father in 1860, the family moved to 7 Park Terrace, Stirling. In 1887, they moved to 26 Victoria Place. Jane Anne's disability prevented her travels until her mature years, when she was given a pony and trap. It was then that she began to travel to visit estates and beauty spots around Stirling. Her watercolour sketches have both painterly and historical interest. She was largely self-taught, although it is possible she may have received some tuition. Her obituary in 1922 describes her as 'a modern edition of Scott's "Jonathan Oldbuck" who surrounded herself with relics of the past, many of them of great antiquarian interest. (Jonathan Oldbuck was the principal character in The Antiquary).
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
image © Smith Art Gallery and Museum Watercolour collection
Location
1 Spittal Street, Stirling, Scotland
Country
Scotland
Tags
Category
Buildings & Architecture
