"Pipe Practice" by William Bruce Ellis Ranken

**Orionson** · 25th September 14, 02:34 AM

His style reminds me somewhat of the great AE Haswell Miller's style.

**Orionson** · 25th September 14, 02:48 AM

A little research reveals that Pipe Practice was painted in 1918.

**creagdhubh** · 25th September 14, 05:08 AM

I have indeed seen this painting before John, and I have always admired it. I just love the overall composition (the way your eye moves around the canvas) and painting technique. The anatomy of the three figures is absolutely stellar as well. Yes, you are correct in observing the Sargent influenced Ranken's work. Most definitely. Funnily enough, I had actually studied both artists as part of my minor in art history during my tenure as an undergraduate attaining my B.F.A. in oil-painting and anatomy drawing.

Thanks for sharing this lovely work.

Cheers,

**S Mitchell** · 25th September 14, 05:46 AM

I like the painting, but what strikes me most about it is the way it's cropped. It has a very modern, almost digital quality to the framing as if it were a close up of the figures.

I don't know enough about art history to know how much influence photography had on oil painters or if there's another tradition at work.

**tulloch** · 25th September 14, 07:42 AM

That is very nice. Good attention to detail. I can see lots of detail that makes me feel their activity.

**Orionson** · 25th September 14, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by S Mitchell

I like the painting, but what strikes me most about it is the way it's cropped. It has a very modern, almost digital quality to the framing as if it were a close up of the figures.

I don't know enough about art history to know how much influence photography had on oil painters or if there's another tradition at work.

Perhaps, @creagdhubh could shed some light?

**Orionson** · 27th September 14, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by S Mitchell

I like the painting, but what strikes me most about it is the way it's cropped. It has a very modern, almost digital quality to the framing as if it were a close up of the figures.

I don't know enough about art history to know how much influence photography had on oil painters or if there's another tradition at work.

Like you, I find the truncated composition interesting/curious. I couldn't help but wonder if Ranken either had a phobia about feet, or just didn't think he painted feet well. Only half-heartedly, of course. I did wonder if the cropping was in the digital reproduction so I researched the original, and found that this is how he painted it. Interesting decision as his other works don't seem to use this approach.

I'd love to know the history of this particular picture, as he doesn't seem to have painted many overtly Scottish pictures. He was a "Society" Painter, as was Sargent. The Regimental nature of the kit of the Pipers and the 1918 date point to the WWI dynamic.

I wonder if resident expert on such matters @OC Richard may be able to shed some light on the subject?

**S Mitchell** · 27th September 14, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by Orionson

Like you, I find the truncated composition interesting/curious. I couldn't help but wonder if Ranken either had a phobia about feet, or just didn't think he painted feet well. Only half-heartedly, of course. I did wonder if the cropping was in the digital reproduction so I researched the original, and found that this is how he painted it. Interesting decision as his other works don't seem to use this approach.

I'd love to know the history of this particular picture, as he doesn't seem to have painted many overtly Scottish pictures. He was a "Society" Painter, as was Sargent. The Regimental nature of the kit of the Pipers and the 1918 date point to the WWI dynamic.

I wonder if resident expert on such matters @OC Richard may be able to shed some light on the subject?

I'd googled it also and was surprised to see the original cropped as it was.

This morning, I did a quick search for information about the painter, and I found he was friends with a photographer named Adolph De Meyer, who, around that time, worked as a photographer for Vogue and then Vanity Fair.

I wonder if de Meyer's work had any influence on William Bruce Ellis Ranken?

**OC Richard** · 1st October 14, 06:07 PM

Hi guys, no actually I can't recall seeing that painting. It's wonderful!

I love Sargent. I think he's got to be just about the greatest portraitist who ever lived!

The colour scheme is terrific, using the same white for the background as the jackets.

The composition works great. The cropping somehow makes it dynamic.

As far as the accuracy of the uniforms, everything looks perfect to me. White shell jackets had been worn since the early 19th century, I think, and were worn on fatigue etc.

What I especially like is the accuracy of the bagpipes. Even artists with very good eyes for anatomy and costume are often stumped by the structure of the pipes (cf MacLeay). It's quite amazing to see the pipes so flawlessly depicted.

**Orionson** · 27th September 14, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

I have indeed seen this painting before John, and I have always admired it. I just love the overall composition (the way your eye moves around the canvas) and painting technique. The anatomy of the three figures is absolutely stellar as well. Yes, you are correct in observing the Sargent influenced Ranken's work. Most definitely. Funnily enough, I had actually studied both artists as part of my minor in art history during my tenure as an undergraduate attaining my B.F.A. in oil-painting and anatomy drawing.

Thanks for sharing this lovely work.

Cheers,

You are a man o many airts an pairts, @creagdhubh. I am fascinated by your degree in Oil Painting and Anatomy Drawing. I'd be interested in seeing some of your work. Surely, there must be some Scottish themes in your portfolio which may be of interest to many here.

Given your admiration for the Royals, is it safe to presume that you are a fan of Charles III'S watercolours?