Beschreibung:

(Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs, 24th February 2021) Skene, Sir James, of Rubislaw A collection of sketches, several seemingly produced in collaboration with Sir Walter Scott 420 sketches in a range of pencil and ink wash, including some full page illustrations and other smaller studies, all laid into an album on both sides of leaves (some illustrations removed), dating from 1793-1834, contemporary half calf boards reattached to later spine, album measuring 51 x 31cm, showing mainly Scottish scenes, a few manuscript notes accompany illustrations, the vast majority of the sketches appear to be by Sir James Skene with only five being identified as by others (three by Skene's sons, one by a Mr Thomson, and one by Sir William Rae, a close friend of Skene and Scott) Provenance: bookplate of James Skene of Rubislaw; the album is thought to have been purchased at auction in the 1950s by the Stevenson lighthouse family (although an acquaintance has been documented between the lighthouse engineer Robert Stevenson and Sir James Skene suggesting a possible earlier provenance); thence by descent from the Stevenson family Note: James Skene was born on 7th March 1775 and inherited the estate of Rubislaw at the age of 16, following the untimely death of his brother. Skene was sent to university in Germany and a sketch of his lodgings whilst in Hanau can be seen as one of the earliest sketches in the album. By profession, Skene was a lawyer, being admitted to the Scottish bar in 1797, however he was also a keen and talented amateur artist. Around the time of his admittance to the bar, Skene formed a close friendship with Sir Walter Scott with Skene volunteering for Scott's Light Horse Regiment. Amongst his oeuvre, Skene produced A Series of Sketches of the existing Localities alluded to in the Waverley Novels, illustrating Scott's works. Scott valued Skene as a friend, dedicating the fourth canton of Marmion to him in 1808: Eleven years we now may tell,/ Since we have known each other well;/ Since riding side by side, our hand first drew the voluntary brand;/ and sure, through many a varied scene, unkindness never came between... Scott then refers to Skene: The Shepherd, who in summer sun,/ Had something of our envy won, / as thou with pencil and, I with pen,/ The features trace of hill and glen. Skene also wrote of Scott: ...as Sir Walter's pursuits and my own led us so much in the same course that for a good many years we were seldom separated...and when even in the summer recess, either at Ashestiel or engaged in frequent border excursions...on horseback. Scott turned to Skene for support when struggling through illness in 1819 and the album appears to contain the sketch then requested by Scott of what was to be his final resting place thirteen years later. Skene recounts Scott’s request in his Memories of Sir Walter Scott If you promise not to laugh at me, I have a favour to ask. Do you know I have taken a childish desire to see the place where I am to be laid when I go home, which there is some probability may not now be long delayed. Now, as I cannot go to Dryburgh Abbey …it would give me much pleasure if you would take a ride down, and bring me a drawing of that spot. Skene adds that Scott "described…the exact spot from which he wished the drawing to be made..’ and that the sketch was afterwards ‘…engraved as a frontispiece to an account of the Family of Halliburton, of which he [Scott] was a descendent by the female line." This album of Skene's sketches includes at least twenty-eight studies for Skene's etchings in A Series of Sketches of the existing Localities alluded to in the Waverley Novels, a publication encouraged by Scott, and at least four sketches, so far identified, were later used as the basis for other Scott illustrators. These sketches include those of Lagg Castle, Coldingham Priory, Manor Glen and Links of Eyemouth. The friendship between Skene and Scott seems to have been a creative collaboration and