Antique Golf Print, A Match At Duddington

£425

£45 Shipping to

Category

Golf Artwork, Paintings & Prints

Artist

Michael Brown

Reference

32173

Antique Golf Print, Match At Duddingston, Michael Brown, 1898.
An original antique golf photogravure after the painting by Michael Brown, depicting the famous exhibition golf match at Duddingston Golf Club on 26th March 1898. The print was originally produced for the Life Association of Scotland's 1899 calendar and has been attractively mounted and framed in a wonderful period oak frame with a gilt slip and glass.
The golfing scene is titled 'Match At Duddingston. Mr. F.G. Tait & Mr. Leslie M. Balfour-Melville versus B. Sayers & W. Auchterlonie, 26th March 1898'. The detailed composition captures the four golfers taking part in the match, surrounded by a large gathering of spectators in traditional Victorian dress, with the magnificent backdrop of Arthur's Seat and the Duddingston landscape beyond.
The Life Association of Scotland was established in Edinburgh in 1838. During the late 1800's golf courses were being established throughout Scotland, and in 1895 members of the financial community founded the Insurance & Banking Golf Club on the Duddingston estate, situated beneath the spectacular backdrop of the extinct volcano, Arthur's Seat.
To mark the opening of the extended clubhouse, the celebrated Scottish sporting artist Michael Brown was commissioned to paint a scene from an exhibition golf match held at the club. The resulting picture was chosen as the centrepiece for the Life Association of Scotland's 1899 calendar.
The calendar proved such a marketing success that Brown was subsequently commissioned to produce a golfing picture annually until 1916. Photogravure prints were produced from his original paintings and mounted onto the cardboard calendars issued by the Life Association of Scotland. Brown's original paintings adorned the walls of the Association's Edinburgh head office for many years.
This particular example is the original photogravure produced for the 1899 calendar, rather than the complete calendar itself. It has been removed from its original calendar backing and presented as a standalone golfing picture, mounted within a handsome period oak frame. The rich colour and grain of the oak, together with the narrow gilt slip, complement the Victorian golfing scene beautifully.
A charming and historically interesting piece of early Scottish golfing artwork, depicting some of the game's most celebrated players and an important event in the history of Duddingston Golf Club.

Club History of Duddingston Golf Club, taken from their website.

In the late 1800's golf courses were being established all over Scotland and in 1895 the financial community set up the Insurance & Banking Golf Club at the Duddingston estate.
The land, part of a former deer estate, has many links with Scotland's history including in 1745, prior to the Battle of Prestonpans, the encampment of the cavalry of Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, in an area adjoining the course and known today as Cavalry Park.
Owned by the Duke of Abercorn the estate was set on the east flank of Edinburgh, beneath the spectacular backdrop of the 823 feet high extinct volcano Arthur's Seat. The area was considered by the club's founding architect Willie Park to be of a size that would make a "first class course". Well over 100 years later those that have been fortunate enough to play it would surely agree. The course was extended in the 1960's and 1970's by John Shade and Bill Biggar and, with the addition of the new tee at the 12th hole, now measures 6525 yards - a true test of golf.

The gently undulating parkland course (in Gaelic Duddingston means 'sunny side of the hill') is maintained to a high standard throughout the year and is considered one of the most outstanding parkland courses in the Lothians.