JAMES FERRIER PRYDE (1866-1941)
J & W BEGGARSTAFF Also known as BEGGARSTAFF BROTHERS: WILLIAM NICHOLSON AND JAMES PRYDE (1894-1899)

Description / Expertise

Pryde's interest in architecture which is reflected in so much of his work stemmed to a great extent from his upbringing in the New Town district of Edinburgh. It was here that he was surrounded by the classical architecture of the late eighteenth and early nineteeth centuries - in particular the church of St Stephen which was one of two local churches at either end of his street. The extremely high porch and elongated windows in what was an impressive mixed Roman style church, left their mark on Pryde before he came into contact with the prints of Piranesi.

In Street Scene, Pryde has used the sense of strength conveyed by the scale of the building to create a feeling of drama. This is further emphasized by the shadow and the mysterious figures in the foreground. The artists bohemian existance and his connections with the theatre are reflected in his attitude to the slums of both London and Edinburgh. The balks of timber and tarpaulins which hang from the window in Street Scene are all props which the artist uses repeatedly in his work to describe his fascination with his surroundings.