ONE of the most famous illustrations of Robert Burns' epic poem Tam o' Shanter is set to go under the hammer.
The First Drink, which features a detailed depiction of the titular character resting beside his white horse Meg, was painted in the late 1990s by the internationally acclaimed figurative artist Alexander Goudie.
The oil painting will headline McTear’s Scottish Contemporary Art Auction in Glasgow on Thursday, February 26, with an estimate of £10,000 to £20,000.
Tam o’ Shanter is one of Robert Burns' most famous poems and tells the tale of a drunken Ayr farmer and his horse Meg, who loses her tail as they are chased by witches and warlocks.
A lifelong admirer of Burns, Goudie held a fascination for the poem, with his epic series of 54 paintings - housed in Rozelle House in South Ayrshire - considered the most important visual interpretation of the classic work.
The collection was preserved for the nation with financial support from The Fraser Foundation, The TB Hunter Charitable Trust and The Souter Foundation, following an exceptional campaign which recognised the paintings’ cultural importance.
Alexander Goudie’s son, Lachlan Goudie, is the leading authority on his father’s work.
He said: “I think The First Drink shows my father working at the peak of his powers. It contains fully fleshed out characters, like Tam and Souter Johnnie, which my father had developed through a series of earlier works.
“The painting illustrates an imaginary Tam o' Shanter world overflowing with detail and period elements which my father had explored and resolved, and was able to execute in this image with real verve and humour. I think even Robert Burns himself would have grinned with satisfaction.”
The First Drink is being sold by an anonymous vendor who has had the painting in their family collection since it was commissioned in the late 1990s.
The work will feature in The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction at McTear’s in Glasgow. For more information visit www.mctears.co.uk.
Brian Clements, McTear’s managing director, added: “Robert Burns remains as popular today as he’s ever been and anything related to him and his work creates huge interest when up for auction.
“Alexander Goudie’s Tam o’ Shanter works are considered the quintessential visual depiction of the epic poem and there is no doubt The First Drink is amongst the very best of his paintings.
"We look forward to the auction, which we are confident will attract interest from potential bidders across the globe.”
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