The Golden Age of Glasgow’s Art Trade: December 1899 – Death of Mr W. Craibe Angus
On page eight of the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland (Aberdeen Press
and Journal, in The British Newspaper Archive), on Wednesday the 13th of December, 1899, is the obituary of
William Craibe Angus. The column includes a sketch-portrait of the deceased, and reads:
“DEATH OF MR CRAIBE ANGUS.
Mr W. Craibe Angus, the well-known art dealer in Glasgow, died at his residence there on Monday. He had been in
failing health for several months, and latterly was confined to his room. He retained consciousness till the last. Mr
Angus was born at Turriff in 1830, and spent most of his early days in the city of Aberdeen. He carried on business
here for a number of years, and first attracted attention by his studies and researches in natural history. Later, he
turned his attention to dealing in works of art, and in 1870 he went to Glasgow and started a business of that kind.
He possessed the finest Burns library in existence, and it may be remembered that he exposed the Burns forgeries
some years ago. Mr Angus was also the instigator of Burns Centenary Exhibition. In connection with the exhibition,
he entered into correspondence with Robert Louis Stevenson, and three letters in the lately published Stevenson
volume are addressed to Mr Angus, and contain rare criticism of both Burns and Ferguson. Mr Angus was also an
ardent politician. He was a singularly handsome man, and a good conversationalist. To the last his accent retained
the pleasant tone of the north country. Mr Angus was much respected by a wide circle of friends.”
The British Newspaper Archive.
George Fairfull-Smith, July 2024.