Stanley Cursiter 1887 - 1976

Stanley Cursiter was born in Kirkwall, Orkney in 1887 and studied design before attending Edinburgh College of Art in 1906. He joined the army in 1914 and later took charge of a Field Survey Battalion with responsibility to print maps. He was demobilised in 1919 with military honors. Cursiter was appointed Keeper of the National Galleries of Scotland in 1925 and Director in 1930, a post he held until 1948 when he returned to Orkney to paint full time. During his time as Director he was responsible for the dispersal of the National Galleries collection at the beginning of WWII, but following the war he was frustrated in his attempts to set up a modern and Scottish gallery. In 1948 he published a book on Scottish Art. He died in Stromness in 1976."

works in the collection - 7

PAC/105

Stanley Cursiter was instrumental in introducing the work of important European artists to Scottish audiences and in 1911 brought an exhibition of Post Impressionist art to the Society of Scottish Artists exhibition in Edinburgh.

Morning, Prestwick, Ayrshire, 1920


PAC/108

Stanley Cursiter played an important role in the development of modern art in Scotland during the first half of the 20th century. He was responsible for introducing Post-Impressionism to Scottish audiences in 1911 and, in his role as Director of the National Galleries of Scotland, first conceived the idea of establishing a gallery of modern art in Scotland.

Cassis - Evening, 1920


PAC/106

While Stanley Cursiter was well aware of developments in art that were taking place across Europe - even experimenting with futurism in 1913 - he remained aloof from the avant-garde, preferring to take a more traditional and academic approach to his work.

Red Lacquer, 1922


PAC/103

This painting is typical of Cursiter's assured style of figurative painting, using broad brush-strokes and a rich palette to depict the Orkney landscape.

Geo at Yesnaby and Brough of Bigging, 1929


PAC/107

Stanley Cursiter was appointed His Majesty's Painter and Limner in Scotland in 1948 and was much sought after as a painter of official portraits. He also painted many fine portraits of friends and family, notably portraits of Marjorie and Eric Linklater (1932 & 1933 respectively), which now form part of the collection of the University of Aberdeen.

Window - Burnstane House, circa 1935


PAC/109

As Director of the National Galleries of Scotland Cursiter put his skills as a painter and designer to good use, making scale models of the galleries and works from the collection to determine the best hanging arrangements.

Pink Flowers and Blue Curtain, date unknown


PAC/104

Cursiter was appointed His Majesty's Painter and Limner in Scotland in 1948 and painted Her Majesty the Queen receiving the Honors of Scotland in 1953.

Oil Study for the Queen's visit to St Magnus Cathedral, 1960