Looking for John Graham Gilbert, R.S.A., W.S.A.: Artist and Art Collector

Back in 2024, one of the regular guests on a BBC Radio Scotland programme was asked to talk about “their moment of the week”. Apparently, this particular individual was quite concerned about the ‘Glasgow Boys,’ a group of artists who have been the subject of books and exhibitions over a number of years.

 

The guest admitted they never had heard of the artists until they visited what many of us used to call the Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove. They seemed to be quite sincere about their lack of knowledge, and asked why the city did not do more to promote the artists, so that they would become better known. As a group, and as indidividuals, they have become well known, locally and internationally. Perhaps, compared to the fame of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, they might have point.

 

What about John Graham Gilbert?

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, September 2026.