Kinnaird Castle

	Artist: David Bryce
	Title: Kinnaird Castle
	Year: c. 1863
	Medium: ink & watercolour on paper
	Dimensions:
	Suggested topic: built environment
	Source: RSA Diploma Collection
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Description: David Bryce was one of the leading Scottish architects of the mid-19th century, and his buildings can be found right across Scotland.Kinnaird Castle in Angus, which was enlarged by Bryce, is a dramatic example of his diverse approach to architectural design. In it he incorporates Scottish features (such as the round turrets) with details taken from French chateaux (such as the steeply sloping roof and the parterre or ornamental garden) to create an imposing building. Sadly it was badly damaged by fire in 1921 and, although restored, the dramatic roof no longer survives. Bryce also worked on buildings such as Fettes College in Edinburgh, the Mausoleum at Hamilton Palace in Lanarkshire, and the restoration of Blair Castle in Perthshire.This watercolour has been painstakingly executed to show even tiny details of the building. It is a monochrome image with a broad tonal range using paint and ink which have been applied as smoothly as possible. There are no brush strokes or edge marks to display any of the artist's emotional qualities. The featureless sky has a distinct purpose - it reflects the actual weather when the painting was carried out but also acts as a plain backdrop to the very intricate illustration of the castle. It is not clear whether this is an architect's impression of the building, created beforehand to show the client the effect of the enlargement, or a view made after the work was completed. Perhaps no-one is better placed to document the appearance of a building than the architect himself. Even in 1863, new photographic techniques were advanced enough to create pin-sharp representations of scenes like this. So it may be more likely that this is an impression of the finished castle. But given the grandeur of the result, Bryce could be forgiven for returning to proudly paint a picture of this magnificent building.