PORTRAIT OF THE FIDDLER NEIL GOW
oil on canvas
72 x 61cm; 28 1/4 x 24in
88 x 78cm; 34 3/4 x 30 3/4 in (framed)

Property from a Gentleman, London

Gow (1727-1807) was arguably the most famous Scottish fiddler of the eighteenth century. He came to public attention when he was awarded first prize in a competition judged by John McCraw, a blind musician, who stated that he 'would ken his bow hand amoung a hunder(d) players.' Gow's success brought his music making to the attention of the Duke of Atholl, through whose patronage Gow secured performances for balls and dance parties put on by the nobility which made his reputation as a musician and composer. Raeburn's portrait of Gow, upon which the present work is based, is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

offered for sale without reserve