John Carlaw, RSW (1850 – 1934)
Born in Glasgow in 1850, John Carlaw began his working life as a designer at the Saracen Foundry but retired early in the mid 1890's to devote himself fulltime to painting. As he had family connections with Helensburgh, he came here to live with two sisters at Seacliffe on East Clyde Street, which subsequently became part of the Queen's Hotel and, later, was converted into flats as Queen's Court.
One of his sisters, Effie, was a flower painter and his brother, William, was a well known painter of marine subjects, whilst John is best known for his animal and farmyard subjects.
In 1885 John Carlaw was elected a member of the RSW. He worked mainly in water colour, using a wet technique favoured by the Glasgow School. Both he and his brother William were friendly with artists of the Glasgow School who painted in Helensburgh at that time - Alfred East, John Lavery, E.A.Walton and W.Y. Macgregor.
John Carlaw’s large watercolour “East Clyde Street, Helensburgh” was one of the best-loved paintings in the original collection of Nance Anderson, which forms the nucleus of the Anderson Trust Collection. It is still a much favoured painting among local residents and visitors. The view looking west towards the pier, depicts a scene and individual buildings many of which are recognizable today. At the same time, it evokes an idyllic period, over a hundred years ago, where an elegant lady with her parasol strolls along a wide, sun-drenched Clyde Street, free of motor traffic. Similarly, the other painting by John Carlaw, owned by the Trust, “In the shade of the old yew tree” is instantly recognizable topographically as Glasgow Street where it meets Millig Street and the yew tree still stands. The goats, however, do not! In fact, it is questionable whether they ever did graze under that yew tree or whether they were introduced by the artist as an opportunity to indulge his aptitude for animal painting at which he excelled.
John Carlaw died in Helensburgh in April 1934. A number of his relatives still live in this area.
M-J S
Works in Anderson Trust Collection
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| “East Clyde Street, Helensburgh” w/ c (51 x 73.5cm) from Miss Anderson’s original collection |
“In the Shade of the old Yew Tree” Corner of Glasgow St and Millig St w/c (39.3 x 61cm) - Purchased c. 1999 |
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“Street in Helensburgh Purchased 2021 from St Andrew’s & St George’s Edinburgh, Christian Aid Sale |
