Thomas Jones Barker, “Dundee Addressing the Highlanders before the Battle of Killiecrankie”

Thomas Jones Barker’s painting was catalogue number 325, in the West of Scotland

Academy’s twelfth exhibition, in 1852.

 

An article on page five of The Glasgow Herald, on Monday the 1st of November, 1852,

includes the following:

 

“325, ‘Dundee Addressing the Highlanders before the Battle of Killiecrankie’ is a high

class historical picture by Mr. Thomas Barker Jones [sic], and one which shows much

artistic talent. The figures are well drawn, the grouping is picturesque and dramatic,

and the landscape is thoroughly Scottish in its character, but there is a want of depth

and brilliancy in the colouring; in fact, the picture is chalky, and the same face appears

too often on the canvass. Probably the artist meant to depict that family relationship

which is generally supposed to exist among Scotchmen; if so, he has succeeded to the

full; but when we see the principal figure, which is in profile, repeated in all positions,

and with every colour of complexion, and with ringletty, sleek, curly, flowing, black, red,

and grey hair, we are inclined to attribute the circumstance to imperfect observation, or

a deficiency of the inventive faculty.”

 

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, October 2025.