Antique Golf Print After Michael Brown
Antique Golf Print After Michael Brown
Antique Golf Print, North Berwick - Perfection Bunker, Michael Brown, 1910.
An original antique golf photogravure after the painting by Michael Brown, depicting the famous Perfection Bunker at North Berwick Golf Club. The print was originally produced for the Life Association of Scotland's 1910 calendar and has been attractively presented in a handsome period oak frame with a gilt slip, new mount and glass.
The golfing scene is titled 'North Berwick - The Perfection Bunker' and features four notable golfing personalities of the period: Ben Sayers, Mr. J. E. Laidlay, Mr. Robert Maxwell (Amateur Champion 1909) and the Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., who served as British Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905.
The wonderfully detailed composition captures a group of golfers on the historic North Berwick West Links, approaching the famous Perfection Bunker at the 14th hole. The scene shows the undulating links terrain, with the Firth of Forth and the unmistakable Bass Rock in the far distance to the left, whilst the town of North Berwick and its surrounding landscape can be seen to the right. Brown has beautifully captured the character of traditional Scottish links golf, with the players and their caddies dressed in the golfing attire of the period.
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 Duddingston. 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 an original photogravure produced for the 1910 calendar, rather than the complete calendar itself. It has been separately mounted and presented as a standalone golfing picture in an attractive period oak frame with a gilt slip and new mount. The warm colour and grain of the oak complement the sepia-toned golfing scene beautifully.
A charming and historically interesting piece of early Scottish golfing artwork, depicting one of the most celebrated holes in links golf and featuring some of the game's most prominent personalities.
North Berwick Golf Club - The Perfection Bunker
North Berwick West Links is one of Scotland's oldest and most historic golf courses, situated on the southern shores of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian. The course is renowned for its natural links terrain, spectacular coastal scenery and distinctive golfing hazards, many of which have influenced golf course design throughout the world.
The famous 14th hole, known as Perfection, is one of the most celebrated holes on the course. Its name reflects the accuracy required to negotiate the hole successfully, with the strategically positioned bunker presenting a formidable obstacle to golfers approaching the green. With magnificent views across the Firth of Forth towards Bass Rock, the hole provides a wonderful example of traditional Scottish links golf and a particularly fitting subject for Michael Brown's celebrated series of golfing pictures.
Dimensions:
1900-1949
1910
Photogravure
United Kingdom
Original photogravure in good antique condition, with some light age-related foxing, particularly to the sky area. Newly mounted and presented in a period oak frame with gilt slip.
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 and the Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., who served as British Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905.The wonderfully detailed composition captures a group of golfers on the historic North Berwick West Links, approaching the famous Perfection Bunker at the 14th hole. The scene shows the undulating links terrain, with the Firth of Forth and the unmistakable Bass Rock in the far distance to the left, whilst the town of North Berwick and its surrounding landscape can be seen to the right. Brown has beautifully captured the character of traditional Scottish links golf, with the players and their caddies dressed in the golfing attire of the period.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 Duddingston. 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 an original photogravure produced for the 1910 calendar, rather than the complete calendar itself. It has been separately mounted and presented as a standalone golfing picture in an attractive period oak frame with a gilt slip and new mount. The warm colour and grain of the oak complement the sepia-toned golfing scene beautifully.A charming and historically interesting piece of early Scottish golfing artwork, depicting one of the most celebrated holes in links golf and featuring some of the game's most prominent personalities.North Berwick Golf Club - The Perfection BunkerNorth Berwick West Links is one of Scotland's oldest and most historic golf courses, situated on the southern shores of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian. The course is renowned for its natural links terrain, spectacular coastal scenery and distinctive golfing hazards, many of which have influenced golf course design throughout the world.The famous 14th hole, known as Perfection, is one of the most celebrated holes on the course. Its name reflects the accuracy required to negotiate the hole successfully, with the strategically positioned bunker presenting a formidable obstacle to golfers approaching the green. With magnificent views across the Firth of Forth towards Bass Rock, the hole provides a wonderful example of traditional Scottish links golf and a particularly fitting subject for Michael Brown's celebrated series of golfing pictures.){kind=link}