Poosie Nansie's Inn, Mauchline, by Alexander Carse

Key details

Object number: 3.8037
Date: 1820
On display: Yes
Maker: Carse, Alexander (Artist)

Description

Oil on canvas depicting Poosie Nansie's Inn, Mauchline. Painting shows Racer Jess in yellow dress to left of centre, beside her is Robert Burns. To left of Racer Jess is Nance Tannock, the inn keeper, several other women and a small child standing at a table. In a giltwood frame with scalloped edge and floral carved design.

This painting depicts the scene of Burns sitting with Racer Jess and including Nance Tinnock the innkeeper behind. This Ale House was the setting for the poem by Burns titled 'The Jolly Beggars'. Here the artist shows in the background the vagrants or 'Jolly Beggars' consuming the spoils of their begging, stealing and swindling activities of the day in this low tavern and lodging house in Mauchline which Burns had visited.

This Mauchline inn, run by ‘Poosie [cat-like] Nansie’ (Agnes Gibson), is the setting for The Jolly Beggars. Robert is seen in the foreground with the landlady’s daughter, ‘Racer Jess’, while the beggars consume the day’s spoils gained by begging, stealing and swindling.

Object information

Acquisition

1960

Material

Measurements

Diameter: 9(cm)
Height: 69(cm)
Width: 80(cm)

Themes

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