WAITT, Richard

This painting represents the full-length portrait of John 20th Earl of Crawford and Lindsay, “The Gallant Earl of Crawford” (1702-1749) dressed in Hussars’ uniform holding a musket and standing in a highland landscape. Like his father he sought a military career; he entered the army in 1726 and was a captain in the 3rd foot guards by the end of 1734. Undoubted bravery, far-flung service, generosity of spirit, and courageous persistence in living with a painful wound made “the gallant earl” a hero to his contemporaries.

This self-portrait shows the artist sitting at his easel pointing to a painting that he has just completed. The painting of the nude on his easel is probably a representation of ‘sight’ from the traditional series of the five senses, explaining the little hand-mirror - and, of course, the unseen mirror into which Waitt himself looks. Or perhaps the woman, who gazes towards the artist rather than her mirror, symbolises the art of portraiture itself.

This grinning man holds a kail stock with a burning candle stuck in the top. This helps identify him as the fool or jester of a Scottish laird, who probably presided over Halloween festivities. Traditionally, unmarried men and women pulled up kail stocks to confirm the character of their future partner. A candle was then stuck into the end to make a torch. This portrait, painted in 1731, was possibly part of a series depicting Scottish clan members.