James Drummond

James Drummond FSA (1 September 1816 – 12 August 1877) was an artist and the curator of the National Gallery of Scotland from 1868 to 1877. He was also an early photographer.

Life

He was born in 1816, in John Knox House in the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

He studied at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh under Sir William Allan.

He was a member of the Photographic Society of Scotland and was photographed by Hill & Adamson around 1843. He was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In November 1876 he is listed as their Curator of the Museum, along with Robert Carfrae.

He produced a series of drawings of buildings in the Old Town later reproduced as lithographs.

In his later life he lived at 8 Royal Crescent in the New Town of Edinburgh.

Works

Drummond specialised in historical recreations and imaginary reconstructions of past events such as:

The Porteous Mob Montrose paraded on the Royal Mile The Return of Mary Queen of Scots to Edinburgh Portrait of Baroness Burdett-Coutts and her Companion Mrs Brown in Edinburgh (1874) The Pipe-Smoker Queen Mary's Last Look Ancient Scottish Weapons (portfolio series) Fisherman Drawing on his Pipe The Fiery Cross Old Salty (1841) The Departure of the Bride Border Reivers Portrait of Robert Burns Old Edinburgh (portfolio series) The Old Fisherman gravestone for Alexander Smith (poet)