Portrait of George Lauder

This striking painting of George Lauder hangs in our Lauder Library, Dunfermline City Campus and was a gift to the College by the Carnegie family in 1965. The portrait is oil on canvas, and measures approximately 200 x 127cm. It was commissioned in 1901 by Andrew Carnegie and painted by Charles H. Mackie RSA RSW the same year. Though known primarily as a landscape artist, he received the commission through his brother-in-law, William Walls. Mackie had married Anne MacDonald Walls, William’s sister, and the two artists had studied together in Edinburgh.

Andrew Carnegie was also well-known to the Walls’ family in Dunfermline and the millionaire consulted the artist William regarding art purchases. In the Walls’ archive in the National Library of Scotland the letter authorising the commission outlines Carnegie’s wishes for his uncle’s portrait. The letter was sent from Dunfermline to Edinburgh where both artists had their respective studios.

Carnegie must have appreciated the completed portrait since he subsequently visited Mackie in his studio and purchased a painting and a woodblock print. Walls carried out a number of commissions for Carnegie, of landscape near Skibo and Carnegie’s dogs. He rented a cottage in Spinningdale, close to the Skibo estate. George Lauder sadly died on 18 November 1901, at the age of 86, shortly after the painting was completed.

Transcript of letter commissioning the painting:

Glendevon House, Dunfermline, May 13 1901

Regards to Mrs Walls

Dear Mr Walls

I should like a portrait of Uncle Lauder in his velvet coat, a solid piece of work, not impressionistic.

The artist should have to come here for sittings.

Would you kindly arrange it for me

I liked Beveridge boy and as you know Henry Lady, the latter very much but I leave the selection of artist to you.

Uncle is a grand subject in his 86th year, most striking figure.

I had him painted most successfully in America but the portrait was so good I gave it to my cousin his only son.

Now I wish one for myself. Guthrie. White is excellent but unusual, side face and Church Militant, and with the real old-fashioned Doge of Venice kind of picture of Uncle.

No startling Sergeant, nor advertising of the artist’s dexterity, just my grand old handsome dignified Uncle.

Yours

Andrew Carnegie

Sorry, I did not see any Wingate pictures. I have one “The Wa’ Gauge of Winter” which is superb. If you ever see a masterpiece of Wingate please advise me, he’s an artist above all.

George Lauder (1815-1901)

George Lauder was born in 1815 and grew up in radical circles, socialising with linen handloom weavers which was a prominent trade in Dunfermline at that time.

As he grew to manhood, his career saw him move into running a grocery business, firstly in Guildhall Street and later on the High Street. To his close and wider family, operating your own shop on the High Street in Dunfermline was considered the pinnacle of success.

It was to this shop that young Andrew Carnegie often came. There, he and George’s own son listened to George’s stories of all things Scottish – Robert the Bruce, William Wallace and Robert Burns among many others.

george lauder painting

While serving on the Town Council, it became a passionate crusade of George Lauder to implement a good healthy water supply in the town which was approved in 1875 after lengthy campaigning.

George Lauder was also a member of the Burgh School Board. Another of his passions was for a full education for all young people, particularly those who were involved in the more manual trades. He held to the saying that there were two kinds of education – ‘Handucation’ and ‘Headucation’. The school rejected his call to build a school for those requiring ‘Handucation’. He resigned from the Board.

However, true to his character, he sought advice and support from his now wealthy nephew in America, Andrew Carnegie. Over the course of several letters back and forth, Andrew was convinced of the project of building such a school outlined by his uncle. It was in 1897 that George Lauder was in a position to announce that ‘a true friend to Dunfermline’ was happy to donate £7,000 for the building and equipping a purpose-built Technical College. This donation was increased to £13,000.

In 1899, attending the opening ceremony, and at Andrew’s insistence the name of the school should be Lauder Technical College. This reflected how much esteem he held for his uncle, George Lauder. This school is now proudly part of Fife College.