Self-portrait by artist William Crosbie to go on show in Edinburgh
From our archives
5 years ago
A SELF-PORTRAIT by one of “the most singular Scottish artists of the 20th century” has been bought by the National Galleries of Scotland. Womb From Womb, by William Crosbie, who lived from 1915 to 1999, has been bought for £12,750 from the artist’s estate, via the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh. It will be included in the Modern Portrait display, which re-opens at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh on Saturday. The work is, the NGS said, “the most ambitious painted portrait of the artist’s career”. Christopher Baker, director of European and Scottish Art and Portraiture at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Crosbie’s impressive self-portrait is a significant addition to the National Galleries’ unrivalled collection of Scottish art.”
10 years ago
STUDENTS at Glasgow University are being given the chance to follow in the footsteps of the politician, diplomat, soldier and adventurer who is thought to have been the inspiration behind James Bond. The university, together with the family of Sir Fitzroy Maclean, is to honour his memory by offering eight postgraduate scholarships over four years to students coming to Scotland from those areas he visited and is honoured in. They include Georgia, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and the former Yugoslav republics of Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-herzegovina. In addition, 28 travel scholarships will be available to Glasgow students to support them in making trips to develop an existing skill or learn a new one, in keeping with Sir Fitzroy’s passions. 25 years ago
UNION members at shipbuilding and repair yards throughout Britain are to be asked to share work with their Scottish colleagues in an attempt to keep the threatened Kvaerner Govan yard open. It is hoped the innovative suggestion will keep the Glasgow yard afloat long enough to put a rescue package together. Delegates at a conference of Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering officials and yard representatives opening in Manchester today will debate the idea by the Manufacturing, Science and Finance union. It involves returning to their yards and asking managers whether any overspill work could be contracted out to Govan. 50 years ago
A SIMPLE method of detecting a kidney disease among schoolchildren has been discovered at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow. Tests are being carried out in Renfrewshire.
Urinary tract infection can lead to severe kidney damage and death if untreated. The tests involve a slide dropped into the child’s urine which can quickly and cheaply be screened for the disease. Treatment is easy and successful once the disease is detected. “It is to be hoped screening on entry will be undertaken soon at all schools,” the report says. 100 years ago
THE story of how four Aberdeen boys aged from 9 to 13½ years stole a large amount of explosives from the powder magazine at the Sea Beach, with which they “played at being soldiers,” was related at a Children’s Court held at Aberdeen yesterday. The four boys were charged with breaking into the powder magazine and stealing 700 rounds of small arms ammunition, 33 sticks of dynamite, 49 detonators, and 8 gun-cotton primers. Two of the lads were further charged with stealing 253 rounds of small arms ammunition, 12 sticks of dynamite, 6 detonators, and an oil lamp.