Enlightenment ‘masterpiece’ hidden on church wall
A HISTORIC work by one of the most important Scottish artists of the Scottish Enlightenment is to be revealed to the public after being hidden in an Edinburgh church for 200 years.
Work has begun to uncover the Ascension Of The Lord by Alexander Runciman, who painted it in the church just off the Royal Mile in 1774.
The painting has been described as “nothing less than the first significant public religious art in Scotland since the Reformation”. It was painted for the Cowgate Chapel, then an Episcopalian Church just off Royal Mile.
However, after the church’s congregation moved to the New Town, the church became, in 1818, the property of the United Presbyterians, who painted over the images of the Ascension.
In 1856 the building became St Patrick’s Catholic Church.
However, the painting of the Ascension has remained covered.
Now, scaffolding is up inside the church to allow experts to begin uncovering and restoring the Runciman work, which has been described as a masterpiece.
There are also four other works by the artist in the church: Christ And The Woman Of Samaria; the Return Of The Prodigal; Moses; and Elijah.
The exploratory work is being undertaken by Edinburgh-based conservator, Owen Davison.
Professor Duncan Macmillan, the academic and writer, said: “If the Ascension can be recovered and the whole scheme restored, it will give us back a work of art that has a central place in the evolution of modern art.”
The current work on the painting is described as preliminary, to determine the state of the painting.
It will also examine the extent and cost of the renovation required.
Runciman was born in Edinburgh in 1736 but trained at the Foulis Academy in Glasgow.
He later studied in Italy with his younger brother John, who died of consumption whilst abroad.
Runciman was a painter of landscapes and historical scenes, and painted several murals around Edinburgh.
The unusual composition and strong colour evident in a number of his works have led critics to place him as an early exponent of modern art.
Runciman also became a master of the Trustee’s Academy, which was a forerunner of the Edinburgh School of Art.