John Duncan Fergusson

Place: Leith

Born: 1874

Death: 1961

Biography:

John Duncan Fergusson, a Scottish artist, was born in Leith, Edinburgh, on March 9, 1874. He is regarded as one of the major artists of the Scottish Colourists school of painting. Fergusson's artistic journey began with a brief training as a naval surgeon, but he soon realized that his true vocation was painting.

Early Life and Training

Fergusson enrolled in the Trustees Academy, an Edinburgh-based art school. However, he became disenchanted with the rigid teaching style and elected to teach himself to paint. He traveled to Morocco, Spain, and France, where he met other artists, including Samuel Peploe, another Scottish Colourist. Fergusson's first trip to Paris in 1898 marked a significant turning point in his artistic development. He was highly influenced by the impressionist paintings at the Salle Caillebotte. Later, he would also be influenced by Fauvism and the fauvist principles of using color.

Artistic Style and Influences

Fergusson's art is characterized by a deep and pure expression of his immense love of life. He was endowed with a rare plastic feeling, almost sculptural in its quality, and an exceptional sense of color. His artistic style was influenced by Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac, who wrote: "His art is a deep and pure expression of his immense love of life." Fergusson's relationship with the American illustrator Anne Estelle Rice also played a significant role in his artistic development. He encouraged her to take up painting, and she became a frequent subject in his canvases.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Some of Fergusson's notable works include People and Sails at Royan, created in 1910. His first solo exhibition was in 1923, and he was also involved in several important group exhibitions. Fergusson founded the New Art Club in 1940, which emerged as the New Scottish Group of painters, with him as the first president. Fergusson's work remains popular, and in 1992, a permanent gallery was founded in Perth to house his art. His widow, Margaret Morris, presented fourteen of his paintings to the University of Stirling when it was founded in 1968.

• Visit https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3B7BP to discover the artworks of Historic Scotland.
• Explore the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, featuring works by Scottish artists such as Alexander Nasmyth, John Quinton Pringle, and Tom Scott.
• Check out Wikioo.org's handmade oil paintings reproductions and print on canvas of famous artworks, including those by Frederick Childe Hassam and Paul Cezanne.

has a rich history, with Fergusson being one of its most notable contributors. His artistic style and influences continue to inspire artists today, making him an important figure in the world of art.