2013 Magazine - Royal Caledonian Ball

air. Many of
these works are
rooted in his
friendships with
the other
Colourists; he
was introduced
Green Sea, Iona, c.1920
to the
Hebridean island of Iona by Cadell in 1920 and
first visited France with Fergusson in the early
1900s. At Iona, Peploe was particularly drawn
to the rocks, sands and views at the north of
the island, creating works such as Green Sea,
Iona, c.1920. In France, Peploe and Fergusson
embarked on painting trips from 1904, most
notably to Paris and the Normandy coast,
where they became steeped in Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist painting, including that
of Sisley, Pissarro and Cézanne. During the
1920s Peploe returned several times to France
to paint, including to Cassis with Cadell in
1924 and to Antibes with Hunter in 1928.
Fergusson moved to Paris in 1907, and three
years later, persuaded the newly-married
Peploe to join him. Peploe was thus amongst
the first British painters to see and respond to
avant-garde work by artists including Picasso,
Matisse and Derain. Fergusson recalled
“Peploe and I went everywhere together. I
took him to see Picasso and he was very much
impressed. We went to the Salon d’Automne
where we met Bourdelle, Friesz, Pascin and
others…I was very happy for I felt that at last
he was in a suitable milieu, something more
sympathetic than the RSA [Royal Scottish
Academy].” When Peploe returned to
Edinburgh in 1912, his new work was received
with scorn, but was widely exhibited in
London during the following two years.
After the outbreak of the First World War,
Peploe was declared medically unfit for
service. He then embarked on a period of
isolated experimentation whilst corresponding
with Fergusson and Cadell. Shortly afterwards
15
they began their annual trips to Iona, whilst
throughout the 1920s their homes and studios
were within easy walking distance of each
other in the New Town.
Throughout the 1920s Peploe exhibited
regularly in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London
and in 1927 he was elected a member of the
RSA. From about 1924, he developed a style
characterised by an increasingly sombre
palette and rigorous technique, using more
rustic accessories such as a treacle-glazed
earthenware teapot and even lamb chops.
Peploe died in Edinburgh on 11 October 1935
and was buried in the family grave in the Dean
Cemetery. Memorial exhibitions were held at
The Scottish Gallery in 1936 and at the
McLellan Galleries, Glasgow the following
year.
The Scottish Colourist: S. J. Peploe
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
(Modern Two)
Until 23 June 2013
Sponsored by Dickson Minto W. S.
Tour of selected works to Aberdeen Art Gallery 13
July – 19 October 2013
www.nationalgalleries.org
Images
S. J. Peploe The Coffee Pot, c.1905
Private collection, courtesy Susannah Pollen Ltd
© The Fine Art Society, London, UK / The
Bridgeman Art Library
S. J. Peploe Tulips and Fruit, c.1919
Private collection
Photograph John McKenzie
S. J. Peploe Green Sea, Iona, c.1920
The Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation
© The Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation / The
Bridgeman Art Library