A photographic portrait of artist Robert Sivell (1888-1958) that featured in the <i>Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial</i> newspaper of 12th January 1939, page 8.

Alongside a portrait of George Jamesone (1589/90-1644, this image illustrates an article by Cuthbert Graham (1911-1987) titled 'These men are putting us on the map'.

This article was written on the occasion of a Royal Academy Exhibition of Scottish Art taking place in London at Burlington House. Graham contrasts the older, and often late, artists of this exhibition (e.g. Jamesone, William Dyce, Robert Brough, John Philip and Pittendrigh Macgillivray) with the modern art scene of Aberdeen, including Sivell and the murals at the new Student Union buildings he was then overseeing. The article also speculates on the relative status of Aberdeen in the overall world of Scottish art.

The caption accompanying the portrait of Sivell reads "Mr Robert Sivell, A.R.S.A., who is directing the work of Gray's School art students in the murals at the new Students' Union."

Describing the nature of the murals, which had only recently begun to be painted, Graham writes the following:

"The decorations are serious in conception and humanistic in temper. They will enhance the actual fabric of this building and will make it, I doubt not,  a show place in itself. Unlike the usual run of decorations in this rackety modern age, they will not reflect the 'temporary' impulse that creates picture palaces, pubs, and dance-halls. A more permanent quality will give them a longer life than most modern murals can hope to enjoy."

Graham's article goes on to describe the planned murals in more detail. Before finally highlighting the importance of D. M. Sutherland, then head of Gray's School of Art, as both an individual artist and to the wider Aberdeen art scene .

Robert Sivell was the principal teacher of painting and drawing at Gray's School of Art. An obituary for him can be found in the <i>Evening Express</i> newspaper of 19th April 1958, page 4.

This obituary states that Sivell was a native of Paisley and product of Glasgow School of Art. Prior to working as an artist, he was apprenticed as an engineer. During the Second World War Sivell was commissioned with the War Artists' Advisory Committee.

Sivell was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1943 and retired from Gray's in 1954. He died aged 69 at his home The Hollow, Stell, Kirkcudbright. He was survived by his wife and a daughter.

A photographic portrait of artist Robert Sivell (1888-1958) that featured in the Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial newspaper of 12th January 1939, page 8.

Alongside a portrait of George Jamesone (1589/90-1644, this image illustrates an article by Cuthbert Graham (1911-1987) titled 'These men are putting us on the map'.

This article was written on the occasion of a Royal Academy Exhibition of Scottish Art taking place in London at Burlington House. Graham contrasts the older, and often late, artists of this exhibition (e.g. Jamesone, William Dyce, Robert Brough, John Philip and Pittendrigh Macgillivray) with the modern art scene of Aberdeen, including Sivell and the murals at the new Student Union buildings he was then overseeing. The article also speculates on the relative status of Aberdeen in the overall world of Scottish art.

The caption accompanying the portrait of Sivell reads "Mr Robert Sivell, A.R.S.A., who is directing the work of Gray's School art students in the murals at the new Students' Union."

Describing the nature of the murals, which had only recently begun to be painted, Graham writes the following:

"The decorations are serious in conception and humanistic in temper. They will enhance the actual fabric of this building and will make it, I doubt not, a show place in itself. Unlike the usual run of decorations in this rackety modern age, they will not reflect the 'temporary' impulse that creates picture palaces, pubs, and dance-halls. A more permanent quality will give them a longer life than most modern murals can hope to enjoy."

Graham's article goes on to describe the planned murals in more detail. Before finally highlighting the importance of D. M. Sutherland, then head of Gray's School of Art, as both an individual artist and to the wider Aberdeen art scene .

Robert Sivell was the principal teacher of painting and drawing at Gray's School of Art. An obituary for him can be found in the Evening Express newspaper of 19th April 1958, page 4.

This obituary states that Sivell was a native of Paisley and product of Glasgow School of Art. Prior to working as an artist, he was apprenticed as an engineer. During the Second World War Sivell was commissioned with the War Artists' Advisory Committee.

Sivell was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1943 and retired from Gray's in 1954. He died aged 69 at his home The Hollow, Stell, Kirkcudbright. He was survived by his wife and a daughter.

Location

Aberdeen

Keyword

Portraits

Photographer