Sandstone statue of Souter Johnnie, by James Crawford Thom

Key details

Object number: 3.5025
Date: 1828
On display: Yes
Maker: Thom, James Crawford

Description

This life size seated figure of the character Souter Johnie. Sculpted in a fine grained sandstone obtained from a nearby quarry at Belston, near the river Ayr. This was a companion to a similar sized statue of Tam o' Shanter.

James Crawford Thom (1802-1850) born near Tarbolton was a stonemason who was commissioned by David Auld custodian of the Burns Monument in Alloway in 1828 to carve a life sized figure of Souter Johnie. Not previously known for his carving, this commission established Thoms' name as one of Scotland's leading sculptors.

The carvings of Souter Johnie and Tam o' Shanter were taken on an exhibition tour of Glasgow, Edinburgh and London in 1829 by Auld and Thom and were so well acclaimed that the funds gathered enabled the building of a shelter for the Statues, and an enlargement of the Monument gardens.

Object information

Acquisition

1828

Material

Sandstone

Measurements

Depth: 89(cm)
Height: 140(cm)
Width: 65(cm)

Themes

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