Thomas McEwan (painter)
Thomas McEwan RSW was a Scottish painter in oils and watercolour, of mainly domestic scenes.
History
McEwan was born near Glasgow into a poor family with artistic inclinations, his father being an amateur artist and a friend of landscape painter James Docherty. He was an apprentice to a pattern designer in Glasgow, but in 1863 attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art under Robert Greenlees. During the 1860s he exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute and in 1872 embarked on a sketching holiday with James Docherty, working on Isla and Jura.
Dutch influence can be seen in his work, especially that of Dutch painter Jozef Israëls. He used members of his family as models and was particularly fond of portraying grandparents and their children sewing and engaged in similar activities in the home and in open farmsteads, often with poultry in the foreground. The influence of Wilkie can occasionally be seen. At his best he was a very good artist, and was for several years president of the Glasgow Art Club.
He lived for many years at Rosevale, Helensburgh.
He was elected member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour in 1883.
Artwork
Some of his work listed here:Portrait of a Boy – date unknown – oil on canvas – 31 × 26 cmTea Time – date unknown – oil on canvas – 45.7 × 61 cmA Posy – date unknown – oil on canvasBorder Tales – date unknown – oil on canvas – 61 × 45.7 cmWoman Seated Beside A Spinning Wheel – 1876 – oil on canvas – 61 × 51 cmNurslings – date unknown – oil on canvas – 46 × 36 cmDomestic Scene, Highland Interior Domestic Scene, Highland Interior – date unknown – oil on canvas – 71 × 92 cmAn Old Woman Reading A Letter – date unknown – oil on canvas – 124 × 16.5 cmSewing – date unknown – oil on canvas – 45 × 60 cmCompanions – date unknown – oil on canvas – 46 × 60.9 cmInteresting News – date unknown – oil on canvas – 46 × 35.5 cmThe Letter – date unknown – oil on canvas – 17.7 × 13.9 cmGrace Before Meat – date unknown – oil on canvas board – 25.4 × 35.6 cmA Request – date unknown – oil on canvas – 30.5 × 25.5 cmMending Time – date unknown – oil on canvas – 25 × 20 cmA Divert – date unknown – oil on canvas – 35 × 45.5 A Highland Industry – date unknown – oil on canvas – 76 × 64 cmFigures and Poultry Before a Thatched Cottage – date unknown – pencil and watercolour heightened with white – 24 × 33.6 cmSpinning at Her Wheel – date unknown – oil on canvas – 61 × 46 cmHighland Industry – date unknown – oil on canvas – 63.5 × 76.2 cmA Wayside Chat – 1874 – oil on canvas – 44 × 59 cmCompanions – 1880 – oil on canvas – 30.5 × 25.5 cmEvening Pursuits – 1884 – oil on canvas – 46.3 × 60.9 cmA Liberal Defeat – 1884 – oil on canvas – 45.8 × 35.6 cmSomebody's Coming – 1885 – oil on canvas – 40.6 × 30.3 cmReading the Bible – 1890 – oil on canvas – 49.3 × 39 cmHard at Work – 1890 – oil on canvas – 36.2 × 32.4 cmLearn Young – Learn Fair – 1890 – oil on canvas – 30.5 × 23.5 cmAn Artless Tale – 1891 – oil on canvas – 46.5 × 34 cmShepherd's Cottage – 1893 – oil on canvas – 50 × 60 cmThe Sunbeam – 1895 – oil on canvas – 59.5 × 44.5 cmInterior: The Spinning Wheel – 1896 – oil on canvas – 50.8 × 61 cmAn Interior – 1898 – oil on canvas – 61 × 74.9 cmA Scotch Idyll – 1899 – oil on canvas – 50.5 × 61 cmIn Time of War – "Mony A Sweet Babe Fatherless/And Mony A Widow Mourning" – 1900 – oil on canvas – 63.5 × 76 cmA Favoured Guest – 1900 – oil on canvas – 45.5 × 61 cmFlutist – date unknown – charcoal on paperThe Golf Match – date unknown – oil on canvas – signed – 29 × 45 cmMeditation – 1889 – oil on canvas – signed – 29 × 24 cm