Studying from previous masters at Skelmorlie Aisle

From the surface, Skelmorlie Aisle in Largs seems to be very unassuming. Nonetheless, its slightly plain exterior masks a spectacular inside.

In-built 1636 as an addition to Largs Parish Church, Skelmorlie Aisle was the non-public place of worship and resting place of Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie and his spouse, Dame Margaret Douglas.

Skelmorlie Aisle in Largs.

Its ornate inside has no parallel in Scotland. It’s in two components: a non-public gallery for the unique use of the laird and his household (generally known as a laird’s loft) and a vault.

The monumental stone tomb within the laird’s loft is carved within the Renaissance type, which started in Italy within the 1400s. It was most likely carved by Scottish masons utilizing overseas sample books and should have initially been richly colored.

The vault, usually not accessible to the general public, nonetheless incorporates the lead coffins of Sir Robert and Dame Margaret.

However at this time, we’re right here to speak in regards to the superb ceiling at Skelmorlie Aisle and the way it impressed a latest challenge to research using fashionable sustainable supplies.

Lookup!

In case you forged your eyes upward on this small constructing, you’ll uncover a richly painted ceiling.

It was painted in 1638 by the artist J Stalker, who had additionally accomplished work in Edinburgh Citadel and Parliament Home.

This splendid ceiling is an extremely uncommon instance in Scotland. It was painted within the wake of the Scottish Reformation. Many artworks with spiritual themes have been destroyed through the Reformation, and within the seventeenth century it was extremely uncommon for brand new works of non secular artwork to be commissioned. It is usually the one identified ‘early’ painted ceiling current in Scotland which has an artist’s signature.

We’re very fortunate that consultants within the historical past of Scottish ornamental portray, Michael Bathtub and Angela Callaghan, have produced intensive analysis on the subject of the Skelmorlie Aisle ceiling. In case you’d like to search out out extra in regards to the composition and symbolism of the ceiling, and the positioning generally, please obtain our Assertion of Significance for Skelmorlie Aisle.

The ceiling consists of forty-one particular person compartments. Each incorporates completely different mixtures of emblems, designs, human figures, animals, birds and heraldic representations. Of the forty-one compartments, 4 comprise panorama work, depicting the seasons, and their related labours.

Pandemic challenge

Again in 2020, when the pandemic meant we couldn’t perform our common conservation work, I had time to work on one thing a bit completely different – a reconstruction of one of many works in our care.

I had been a part of the employees group engaged on ‘Local weather Prepared HES’, our organisation’s first local weather change adaptation plan. Themes of the local weather disaster have been on the forefront of my thoughts!

My problem was to recreate a picture from our collections, utilizing sustainable supplies, which additionally conveyed a message about local weather change.

An acceptable topic

It was the Skelmorlie Aisle panel depicting ‘Winter’ which caught my eye. Flooding, storm surges and coastal erosion can all be seen within the 384-year-old panel. All of those would have been acquainted to earlier generations however with local weather change ensuing from human emissions and actions, the frequency and severity of those are rising quickly.

The ‘Winter’ panel

In case you take a detailed have a look at the panel, you’ll see a frozen river within the centre, dividing the composition. Persons are seen skating within the foreground and a ship is frozen in on the left. On the appropriate stands a thatched cottage with two folks in entrance of the door. One lady holds a pan which incorporates ice and the opposite a red-hot poker to soften it. Her act of melting the ice is considered a visible metaphor for meltwater from snow and ice inflicting floods. On the appropriate of the scene, you may see a submerged farm constructing. You possibly can take a really shut look over on Canmore, utilizing the zoom characteristic.

On the appropriate of the composition is a wild sea. Ridges of ‘white horses’ engulf two crusing ships whereas a 3rd one has already succumbed to the storm.

This scene depicts Largs. The river is the Gogo Water, which flows by the centre of the city. The church tower is Largs Parish Church, which was demolished in 1812. The constructing with the crow-stepped roof beside the church tower could possibly be Skelmorlie Aisle itself.

Stalking J Stalker

To grasp the right way to recreate this panel, I needed to discover out in regards to the supplies and methods utilized by Stalker. Fortunately, my colleague Damiana Magris and College of Northumbria at Newcastle had carried out earlier investigations into the supplies used, so I used to be ready to make use of their findings in my challenge.

Unusually for this era of ornament in Scotland, the ceiling is painted in oils slightly than a water-based paint. The ornament is pained on to timber.

Discovering a base

I set myself up in a north-facing room. This cool, oblique mild is the right situation for an artist’s studio and I didn’t must depend on electrical mild. And dealing from house, like so many people did through the pandemic, meant there have been no journey emissions!

I sourced the timber base for this challenge regionally. The unique ceiling is made from pine, which is liable to warping. I opted to make use of a contemporary different: a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) plyboard. This can be a composite timber with pine integrated. FSC authorised merchandise promote the sustainable use, conservation, restoration, accountable administration and improvement of forests.

I drove to gather the timber however mixed my journey with different errands to get probably the most out of the carbon footprint for this journey.

Getting ready the floor

With the intention to put together the timber floor for portray, it must be coated in a number of preparation layers. Firstly, the timber have to be sealed. Historically, that is accomplished with glue constructed from rabbit pores and skin. For hundreds of years rabbit pores and skin glue has been utilized by artists and conservators alike as a base for portray and as an adhesive. The glue is taken into account a by-product of the meat trade, with over 50% of the product originating from China. An argument could possibly be made that this can be a sustainable use of a waste product. Nonetheless, there are legitimate issues in regards to the moral nature of the product. Rabbits farmed for meat and fur are sometimes saved in barren, overcrowded circumstances.

Prime left picture exhibits the soaking of the glue dimension. Prime proper exhibits the sifting of the gesso. Backside left exhibits software of the nice and cozy gesso layers. Backside proper exhibits the ready panel.

A generally used different is an acrylic-based base. Nonetheless, as a plastic-based product this additionally has its drawbacks. Generally there isn’t an ideal different and compromises must be made. On the planet of conservation practitioners are within the early levels of creating Life Cycle Assessments to assist us make extra knowledgeable selections and steadiness the professionals and cons.

For this challenge, I used my remaining inventory of rabbit pores and skin glue, however in future I’ll search for moral and environmentally pleasant substitutes.

After sealing the panel with glue, I utilized gesso. This can be a primer that the paint will adhere to.

Sketching the design

I then made a free-hand line drawing of the scene on biodegradable tracing paper.

The preparatory sketch of the design.

As soon as the design was full, I transferred it on to the ready wood panel. The primary design outlines have been ‘fastened’ with black Indian Ink.

The design fastened in Indian Ink.

I used strong graphite pencils to sketch the preparatory design. These are extra sustainable as they don’t use wooden. Nonetheless, wood pencils can be utilized extra sustainably. Pencils are often made from cedar wooden which may act as a pest deterrent, so you might use they shavings as mulch within the backyard! Graphite can be protected to make use of in compost and mulch.

Portray

This was a difficult stage the place it wasn’t at all times straightforward to steadiness the goals of this challenge. I used to be eager to make use of extra sympathetic supplies however to additionally mirror these initially used within the creation of the Skelmorlie ceiling.

Numerous portray supplies thought of for his or her non-toxic, sustainable or moral qualities.

When it got here to paints, I made a decision to substitute conventional oil paints with water mixable oils. I additionally selected to exchange animal hair brushes with artificial brushes. Once more, this was a kind of tough judgement calls between the welfare of animals and a plastic-based different.

Portray of the reconstruction in progress.

When sourcing the supplies, I researched completely different suppliers and chosen them primarily based on their ethics and sustainable requirements. For instance, in Stalker’s unique art work he would have used a lead-based white, which we now know to be poisonous. I used a titanium white as an alternative.

What I’ve discovered

All through this journey of exploration into extra sustainable and moral working practices, tough selections have been made to adapt. I used to be actually venturing out of my comfort-zone in abandoning using some well-loved conventional supplies. This was an thrilling alternative to discover altering practices.

Usually it’s solely once you try to undertake one thing sensible that you simply start to completely study all of the facets and interrogating earlier practices. Simply citing the questions helps to lift consciousness and permit for additional concerns sooner or later. Striving to develop into extra sustainable is a journey that may tie you in knots however can’t be ignored and hopefully each little helps.

The completed reconstruction.

In regards to the creator

Ailsa Murray is a senior work conservator inside the Utilized Conservation Crew at Historic Atmosphere Scotland. She takes care of easel work (transportable work) and in addition structural work, like murals and painted ceilings. Her remit covers a really wide selection of labor; from medieval wallpaintings to 20thC work on canvas. Ailsa cares for work within the Central and Edinburgh areas.

Discover out extra

Uncover extra tales from our Conservation Crew.

Please observe, Skelmorlie Aisle is closed over the winter months however will reopen in spring.