Boston Public Library
Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945). Prints, Drawings, and Paintings
Detail from:
Jan
Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) was a Scottish painter and etcher. Born in Glasgow, he studied at the Glasgow School of Art and the Edinburgh Schools of Art.
Cameron gained recognition both as a painter in oil and in watercolor and as an etcher. His images were enhanced by European travel, especially by trips to the Netherlands, Italy, and France. Cameron was awarded a number of honors, including election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers in 1895, election as a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1918, and election as a full Royal Academician in the British Royal Academy in 1920. In 1917, Cameron was commissioned by the Canadian government to cover the war in France. He was knighted in 1924 and was appointed the King’s Painter and Limner in Scotland in 1933. He also served as a Trustee of the Tate Gallery between 1921 and 1927.
Cameron began etching in 1887. His early prints focus on subjects taken from the activities along the River Clyde and from the landscapes and architecture observed on his European travels. After 1905, he focused on depicting the Scottish landscape. He is known for the romantic mood of his subjects, created through his skillful use of tone.
Boston Public Library’s Cameron collection numbers over 550 works and includes proofs of many of the prints in addition to watercolors and drawings. The library is especially fortunate to have proofs of all the plates Cameron created for his major series: The Clyde Set, The North Holland Set, The North Italian Set, and The Belgian Set. With a few exceptions, the collection was formed by Albert H. Wiggin and came to the library as part of Wiggin's 1941 gift of his private collection of prints and drawings.
Critical funding to support long-term preservation of and enhanced public access to Boston Public Library collections, including this one, was provided by the Associates of the Boston Public Library.
Cameron gained recognition both as a painter in oil and in watercolor and as an etcher. His images were enhanced by European travel, especially by trips to the Netherlands, Italy, and France. Cameron was awarded a number of honors, including election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers in 1895, election as a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1918, and election as a full Royal Academician in the British Royal Academy in 1920. In 1917, Cameron was commissioned by the Canadian government to cover the war in France. He was knighted in 1924 and was appointed the King’s Painter and Limner in Scotland in 1933. He also served as a Trustee of the Tate Gallery between 1921 and 1927.
Cameron began etching in 1887. His early prints focus on subjects taken from the activities along the River Clyde and from the landscapes and architecture observed on his European travels. After 1905, he focused on depicting the Scottish landscape. He is known for the romantic mood of his subjects, created through his skillful use of tone.
Boston Public Library’s Cameron collection numbers over 550 works and includes proofs of many of the prints in addition to watercolors and drawings. The library is especially fortunate to have proofs of all the plates Cameron created for his major series: The Clyde Set, The North Holland Set, The North Italian Set, and The Belgian Set. With a few exceptions, the collection was formed by Albert H. Wiggin and came to the library as part of Wiggin's 1941 gift of his private collection of prints and drawings.
Critical funding to support long-term preservation of and enhanced public access to Boston Public Library collections, including this one, was provided by the Associates of the Boston Public Library.