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Drawings. Visual works.

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Scope Note: Visual works produced by drawing, which is the application of lines on a surface, often paper, by using a pencil, pen, chalk, or some other tracing instrument to focus on the delineation of form rather than the application of color. This term is often defined broadly to refer to computer-generated images as well. (AAT) Include sketches under 'Drawings', but ignore doodles, unless particularly noteworthy. (NLS) In the published catalogues this heading was used for pictures. The heading 'Pictures' was used for all lists of pictures and for descriptions of treatises on pictures. (NLS) .

Found in 192 Collections and/or Records:

‘Beginning and the end of the Lewis Chemical Works', a detailed account written by D Morison, former foreman of the plant, of its operation from 1857 to 1874.

 Item
Identifier: MS.9586
Scope and Contents The Lewis Chemical Works was established by Sir James Matheson, proprietor of Lewis, to distil tar and paraffin oils from the abundant local peat. Sited above the south side of the River Creed, near Stornoway, it suffered, according to Morison's account, from incompetent management, lack of expert supervision, and peculation by imported employees, accumulating financial losses which led to closure in 1874. Seven line drawings and plans (folios 2, 39, 40, 43, 47, 50, 61) are...
Dates: 1895.

Bible, written in France.

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.1.2
Scope and Contents The order of contents (from folio 3) is that usually found in French bibles of the period, with the common set of 64 prologues (see ‘Medieval Manuscripts in British Libraries’, pages 210-212). The biblical books are followed (folio 412) by the interpretations of Hebrew names beginning ‘Aaz apprehendens` (see ‘Repertorium Biblicum medii aevi’, number 7709). Leaves containing II Maccabees 8, verses 22-10, verse 30 and 14, verse 5 - Matthew 1, verse 11 are missing.There are...
Dates: 2nd half of 13th century.

'Catalogue of Books belonging to Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, Baronet, 1743.'

 File
Identifier: MS.3804
Scope and Contents

With a valuation, 1777, by John Bell, bookseller, Edinburgh, at £50 (folio vii); letters of Alexander Guthrie (presumably the Edinburgh bookseller) making the books over to Archibald Constable, and of Constable transferring the purchase to John Clerk, 1801 (folio i); and a drawing by Walter Geikie, 1825, from a portrait of Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, 1621.

The earliest catalogue hitherto known is that printed for the sale by J G Cochrane in 1816.

Dates: 1743-1825.

"Cinquant [sic] Octonaires sur la vanité et inconstance du monde, dediez a tresillustre seigneur le conte de Shrewsbury, pour ses estrennes l'an 1607", being a calligraphic copy of the verses by Antoine de la Roche Chandieu, first published anonymously in ‘Les Cantigues du Seigneur de Maisonfleur’.

 Item
Identifier: MS.25240
Scope and Contents The manuscript is written in a variety of calligraphic hands and is decorated throughout with paintings of flowers, birds and insects. The pages containing Octonaires XVII, XXXI and XXXVIII are missing.The original title page and the dedication to the Earl of Shrewsbury have been cut out and pasted onto the verso of folio i and the inside of the front cover respectively.There are a number of later drawings and notes, including records of births of members...
Dates: [1586, or before]-19th century.

Circa 500 letters of Florence M Russell to Norman McLaren.

 Fonds
Identifier: Acc.10639
Scope and Contents

With cards, drawings and photographs.

Dates: 1951-1976 and undated.

Collection of romances and religious material, mostly in verse, written in the North Midlands by Richard Heeg with some items by James Hawghton and additions in other hands.

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.19.3.1
Scope and Contents The contents of the manuscript are as follows:(i) ‘The Hunting of the Hare` (‘The Index of Middle English Verse’, 973) (folio 1), followed by a mock sermon in prose (folio 7 verso) and nonsense verses (folio 10 verso) (the latter ‘The Index of Middle English Verse’, 3425, both printed in ‘Reliquiae Antiquae’, volume 1, pages 82-84). See ‘The “Hunting of the Hare” in the Heege Manuscript’. Written by Richard Heeg.(ii) `Sir Gowther` (‘The Index of Middle English Verse’,...
Dates: Circa 1480.

Colour transparencies, 2006, of artworks by Alasdair Gray, 1950s-2005.

 File
Identifier: Acc.12637/1-6
Scope and Contents

Tansparencies of paintings and drawings by Alasdair Gray, many of which were collected and annotated in this collection to be scanned for use in 'A life in pictures' (Canongate, 2009).

Dates: [2006].

Commonplace Book containing drawings of scenery, characters, flora and fauna and miscellanous verse.

 Item
Identifier: Acc.13650
Scope and Contents

This volume contains numerous illustrations including the `Costume of the Ladies of Edinburgh, Spring 1828`, a drawing of the Water of Leith, a man in Albanian costume in southern Italy, the ruins of a Roman temple in Palmyra in Syria, together with flora and fauna. There are also verses from Shakespeare, Byrone, Washington Irving, Sir Walter Raleigh, Milton and James Thomson.

Dates: 1828-1847, undated.

Commonplace Book probably compiled by C Shaw, York.

 Item
Identifier: Acc.13514
Scope and Contents

Commonplace Book consisting largely of verse, but also with drawings of a Highland scene and pipers at Farr, botanical specimens from Farr and Edinburgh, and pasted in scraps from a visit to Scotland of 1826, and later visits to Switzerland and France.

Dates: 1826-1865, undated

Composite volume consisting of several commonplace books of William Thoirs of Muiresk, born 1666, covering the years 1705-1724, but also containing earlier material.

 File
Identifier: Adv.MS.35.4.14
Scope and Contents The commonplace books were bound together but not in chronological order. Some are made up from old legal style books (folios 161, 197, 248, 331, 479), one (circa 1697) belonging to a James Strachan (folio 199). The contents of the volumes are predominantly Episcopalian and Jacobite in sympathies, covering a range of theology, drama, poetry, polemic and ephemera. There is a copy of Dr Archibald Pitcairne`s Anti-Presbyterian play ‘The Assembly’ (folio 162) and also several pages of elaborate...
Dates: 1705, and before-1724.

Copy in an unidentified hand of ‘Memorial offered to the Honourable Commissioners of Excise concerning the Mensuration of Tuns or Backs that have some irregularity in the Figure and Situation of the Bottom ... To which is added a Method of correcting the common Tables, and some new Theorems` by Colin Maclaurin.

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.23.1.13
Scope and Contents

There is a pen drawing of a ship on folio vi. This is a work of applied mathematics written in order to enable customs officers to gauge the contents of molasses barrels used in the port of Glasgow.

Dates: 1735.

Correspondence and papers of Ruari McLean with Cynthia and David Pettiward.

 ...
Identifier: Acc.11466
Scope and Contents

Concerning McLean`s introduction to "The Last Cream Bun" (London, 1984) with drawings by Roger Pettiward, pseudonym Paul Crum.

Dates: 1981-1984.

Cowie collection of manuscripts of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Allan Ramsay and others, made by Charles R Cowie of Glasgow.

 Collection
Identifier: MSS.15951-15975
Scope and Contents

The Cowie manuscripts include the final version of ‘The gentle shepherd, a Scots pastorall comedy’ by Allan Ramsay (MS.15972).

Dates: 1720-1914, undated.

Designs for book decorations, stage sets and garden buildings by William McLaren.

 Collection
Identifier: Acc.11560
Scope and Contents

Includes a sketchbook, specimans of calligraphy and printed books designed or decorated by McLaren.

Dates: 1943-1968.

Diaries, letters and miscellaneous papers, 1944-1989, of and relating to John Armstrong.

 Collection
Identifier: Acc.13315
Scope and Contents

John Armstrong studied at the Edinburgh College of Art where he was a contemporary of Eduardo Paolozzi who is mentioned in his diaries. After leaving college he worked as an artist and displays manager, then went on to work for the DHSS, Register Generals Office and elsewhere in Edinburgh. He later ran his own business. He continued painting throughout his life and also wrote fiction inspired by his bohemian lifestyle.

Dates: 1944-1989.

Diary of John Forfar, schoolmaster in Edinburgh.

 Series
Identifier: MSS.6260-6289
Scope and Contents The diary entries consist of records of personal experiences, and rambling didactic essays. The topics include observations on religion, philosophy, current events, sex, education, music, art and literature; there are copies of songs and music, a complete essay on marriage, and accounts of travels, notably a journey to Glasgow, 1822 (MS.6260), and a sea-trip to the Irish coast (MS.6272).Some miscellaneous newspaper cuttings and catalogues are inserted in the diary; and there are...
Dates: 1822-1836.

Diary of the South African campaign of 1900-1901 kept by Second Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Herbert George Sotheby of the 4th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

 Item
Identifier: MS.8498
Scope and Contents

The diary, though silent on the larger issues, is interesting for its first-hand accounts of the raids in which the battalion took part. A list of the battalion's officers and a drawing of Colonel Plumer (later Viscount Plumer) are also included.

Dates: 1900-1901.

Douglas of Cavers papers.

 Fonds
Identifier: Acc.7488
Scope and Contents 1. Scrapbook inscribed `James Malcolm Palmer Douglas. This book started by his father and continued by his mother, 1948`, with pasted in letters, household accounts and bills for garden seeds, genealogical charts, invitations, menu cards, press cuttings and photographs, 1712-1948, undated.2. Plan of the Cavers Estate the property of James Douglas Esq., 19th century.3. Plan of the Cavers Estate, 19th century.4. Cavers Estate Woods, record of plantations,...
Dates: 18th century to 20th century.