Fiona Salvesen Murrell is studying William Shiels, R.S.A. (1783-1857); identity, scientific enquiry, and the development of art institutions in Britain and North America. In three parts she tells us about the work of William Shiels and the collection held at National Museums Scotland. In part 1 Fiona looks at how she came to start researching William Shiels. In part 2 find out about the artist and his work and in part 3 discover the surviving works. Visit the National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride to see some of Shiels’s paintings for yourself.
At home and overseas
The range of animals depicted by Shiels encompasses both British and foreign livestock. Sixteen examples of the latter were included as Professor David Low [1], who commissioned the paintings, felt these animals might be of use in bringing beneficial qualities to the native breeds.
![William Shiels, The Arabian Stallion, 1839-41. Photographed by FVS Murrell. This horse was taken in a skirmish with an Arab tribe and imported into Britain by Sir John McNeill, G.C.B., British Minister at the Court of Persia. This is one of the pictures remaining on its stretcher. William Shiels, The Arabian Stallion, 1839-41. Photographed by FVS Murrell. This horse was taken in a skirmish with an Arab tribe and imported into Britain by Sir John McNeill, G.C.B., British Minister at the Court of Persia. This is one of the pictures remaining on its stretcher.](https://blog.nms.ac.uk/app/uploads/2012/11/arabian-stallion.jpg)
Domestic animals
Low’s writings and fifty-six of Shiels’ paintings were published in two luxurious volumes in 1842: The Breeds of the Domestic Animals of the British Islands. Shiels’ paintings had been copied by William Nicholson [2], in reduced watercolour versions so that Thomas Fairland [3] could create the hand-coloured lithographic plates in the book. The plates were accompanied by lengthy text on each breed under divisions of type: Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, and Goats.
![William Shiels, Group of Scotch Dogs (detail), Collie from Tweedale, Scotch Deerhound, Otter Terrier, and Scots Terrier, 1842-43. Shiels was paid £20 for this painting on 22 April 1843. William Shiels, Group of Scotch Dogs (detail), Collie from Tweedale, Scotch Deerhound, Otter Terrier, and Scots Terrier, 1842-43. Shiels was paid £20 for this painting on 22 April 1843.](https://blog.nms.ac.uk/app/uploads/2012/11/scotch-dogs.jpg)
The French Government was so impressed with the book that they immediately ordered it to be translated into French. It was re-issued in Britain in 1845, in a much smaller edition, without the colour plates, and with the added title With Observations on the Principles and Practise of Breeding, it was further revised and reissued in 1853.
The Museum of Agriculture and the livestock portrait collection
The Museum of Agriculture was unfortunately housed in dark and damp basement rooms in the Old College of the University of Edinburgh, on the corner of Chambers Street and West College Street. The collections, which included a vast array of models of agricultural implements, machinery, and farm buildings; soil, plant, seed specimens and so on, all suffered as a result, even whilst Shiels was still working on completing the commission. As the University was struggling for funds, the paintings and other items deteriorated quite severely.
![William Shiels, Connemara Gelding (detail), 1839-41, photographed by FVS Murrell. The pony was property of John Bindon Scott, of Cahireon, Galway, in the collection of National Museums Scotland William Shiels, Connemara Gelding (detail), 1839-41, photographed by FVS Murrell. The pony was property of John Bindon Scott, of Cahireon, Galway, in the collection of National Museums Scotland.](https://blog.nms.ac.uk/app/uploads/2012/11/connemara-gelding-500px.jpg)
In the late 1960s, thirty-five of the remaining pictures were transferred to National Museums Scotland and during the 1980s and 1990s twelve were conserved. The University retains six paintings and nearly all the rest have disappeared. At some point prior to the collection coming to National Museums Scotland, someone cut many pictures off their stretchers and did this in a way which damaged a number severely, so some portraits are missing tips of the animal’s face or backside and some were cut in half, thus it is a difficult, but not impossible, job to repair and conserve them.
![Neaplolitan Boar and Sow, William Shiels, Neaplolitan Boar and Sow, 1833-1838, photographed by FVS Murrell. Boar, the property of Earl Spencer, was imported by the Hon. Captain Spencer from Naples; the sow, two years old was bred by the Earl of Leicester from imported stock. The Agricultural museum catalogue label remains affixed to the canvas of this yet to be conserved painting. The breed was first imported by Lord Western (1767-1844) of Rivenhall, Essex; they were remarkable for the flavour of their meat and ability to fatten on the smallest quantity of food.](https://blog.nms.ac.uk/app/uploads/2012/11/neapolitan-boar-and-sow-500px.jpg)