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Framed plaster panel copy of 'Tam o'Shanter' statue, carved by George E. Ewing

Key details

Object number
3.5018
On display
No
Maker
Ewing, James A.

Description

A framed plaster copy of the low-relief 'Tam o'Shanter' panel at the base of Burns Statue in George Square, Glasgow. Inspired from Burns's poem 'Tam O'Shanter' and depicting Tam observing the witches and warlocks dancing at Alloway Kirk. In rectangular wooden display case or frame.

The tale of Tam o' Shanter was written by Burns to accompany a piece by Captain Grose which described the ruined Kirk at Alloway in his book "The Antiquities of Scotland". It describes a drunken farmer's homeward ride through Alloway and his encounters with the witches he disturbs in the Alloway Kirkyard.

This plaster panel is a copy of the basso-relief at the foot of the Burns statue in George Square in Glasgow which was unveiled on 25th January, 1877 in front of a crowd of 30,000. The scene depicted is from the Burns poem of Tam o' Shanter.

The 9 foot tall bronze statue of Burns in George Square was sculpted by George E. Ewing (1828-1884). Later about the turn of the century, His younger brother James A. Ewing ((1843-1900) added three bas-relief panels in bronze based on popular poems by Burns.

Object information

Acquisition

17 January 1888

Category

Material

Measurements

  • Depth: 13(cm)
  • Height: 74.5(cm)
  • Width: 101.5(cm)

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