Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Robert Scott Lauder died in 1869; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1939.
In context
The Proclamation — Robert Scott Lauder
The original measures 127 × 105 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 66 at death.
Painted when the artist was 47. The artist lived to 66. 22 of the 24 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Robert Scott Lauder (1803–1869) ▲ this work, 1850 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1830 Main working years: 1830–1846 Late works: from 1846
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/robert-scott-lauder-the-proclamation-AQSD99-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Quinacridone Magenta #7c5e41
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 39 works by this artist, of which 16 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 11 of them, with 3.6% of that attention. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
In the heart of nineteenth-century Edinburgh, a period defined by a profound reverence for heritage and the sweeping emotions of the Romantic movement, Robert Scott Lauder emerged as a vital voice in Scottish art. Born on June 25, 1803, at Silvermills, Lauder was the son of John Lauder, a respected proprietor of a local tannery. His upbringing in a prominent Edinburgh family provided him with a foundation of stability and cultural access that would eventually propel him toward the heights of academic recognition. While his early life was rooted in the industrious landscape of Scotland, his artistic soul was destined for the grander stages of Europe, seeking to translate the dramatic literary spirit of his era into enduring visual narratives.
Lauder’s intellectual formation began at the Royal High School, but it was his subsequent travels that truly refined his aesthetic sensibilities. Seeking to master the complexities of light and form, he immersed himself in the great artistic hubs of the continent, including Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, and Munich. These extended periods of study abroad allowed him to absorb the classical traditions of Italy and the rigorous academic techniques of Germany, blending them with a uniquely Scottish sensibility. This cosmopolitan education prepared him for his pivotal moment in 1830, when he was elected as one of the original members of the Royal Scottish Academy, a distinction that solidified his status among the intellectual and artistic elite of his nation.
The true essence of Lauder’s work lies in its deep, symbiotic relationship with the literature of Sir Walter Scott. As the novelist’s tales of chivalry, tragedy, and national identity captured the Victorian imagination, Lauder sought to give these words a physical, painterly presence. He did not merely illustrate stories; he attempted to capture the very atmosphere of Scott's romanticized history. His canvases often serve as windows into a bygone era, where the boundaries between historical fact and poetic myth become beautifully blurred.
His oeuvre is marked by several monumental achievements that showcase his ability to handle grand-scale drama:
The Poet: A poignant portrait of Sir Walter Scott himself, which transcends simple likeness to capture an aura of profound intellectual contemplation and the weight of a literary legacy.
The Shepherd Boy: A tender and evocative scene drawn from the world of Ivanhoe, demonstrating his ability to find the sublime within intimate, genre-driven moments.
The Battle of Flodden Field: One of his most ambitious works, this painting depicts the historic Scottish defeat with a mastery of dramatic lighting and expressive movement, embodying the tragic grandeur of Scotland's past.
To observe a Lauder painting is to witness the tactile power of the impasto technique. He favored a thick, vigorous application of paint, which allowed him to manipulate light and shadow in a way that heightened the emotional stakes of his subjects. This textured approach lent a sense of immediacy and life to his historical scenes, making the dust of battle or the soft glow of a pastoral afternoon feel palpable to the viewer. His brushwork was never merely decorative; it was an expressive tool used to convey the turbulent emotions central to the Romantic movement.
Beyond his technical prowess, Lauder’s significance resides in his role as a bridge between the classical traditions of the past and the burgeoning national identity of Scotland. Through his dedication to historical painting, he helped codify a visual language for Scottish heroism and romanticism. Though he passed away in 1869, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with the very fabric of the Royal Scottish Academy, his ability to breathe life into the legends of Sir Walter Scott ensures that his work remains a captivating testament to the power of the imagination.
topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/robert-scott-lauder-the-proclamation-AQSD99-en/
Look closely
The Proclamation — Robert Scott Lauder
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The format of "The Proclamation" is portrait. This is useful when planning where a reproduction will be placed.
The format of "The Proclamation" is portrait, and the original measures 127 x 105 cm. Both are useful when planning a reproduction.
"The Proclamation" is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas. The order can be placed on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page, with a choice of sizes.