A photograph showing principal teacher of drawing and painting at Gray's School of Art, Mr. Robert Sivell (1888-1958), with two of his students standing in front of murals created for a San Francisco cocktail bar.

The image accompanies an article titled 'City Art Students Decorate Cocktail Bar' from the Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial newspaper of 7th July 1938, page 9.

The accompanying article explains that Sivell and four of his post-diploma students were commissioned to paint seven wall murals for a new Scottish themed cocktail bar in the US city of San Francisco.

Three of the seven paintings were full-sized panels standing nine feet high. These depicted Rob Roy, Prince Charles Edward and Balmoral Castle. Four other panels were smaller and showed Tantallon Castle, a Highland scene, Sligachan and Sgurr nan Gillean on Skye, and Loch Tay.

The article lists Mr. Sivell's students as Isobel Mackie, Alberto Morocco, James Hillocks and Taylor Bremner. Referring to his students and the murals, Sivell stated "This is their first commercial work, and it's well done."

The commission for the paintings came through local tailors, Messrs Meldrum, Ltd., George Street, who were well known in America for supplying tartans, kilts, and Scots tweeds. Having dispatched a consignment of Stuart tartan for the bar, they were also approached concerning decorative paintings.

Mr Meldrum queried the request with Mr J. Taylor of Taylor's Art Saloon, who then went to Robert Sivell. The work was carried out in Aberdeen, taking roughly a week, and the finished murals were due to be sent to America on 4th July 1938. (P&J, 04/07/1938, p. 8).

These Scottish themed murals can be seen as a precursory to those Sivell and his students would soon create for the new Students' Union buildings on the Gallowgate.

Location

Aberdeen

Keyword

Portraits

Photographer