Portraits and Photographs - Piper to the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane

[figheadair]

It is rare to find portraits and early photographs of the same character. Here’s one such example.

A portrait of John Ban MacKenzie, Piper to the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane by JM Barclay 1842, and what looks to be a later, poorly executed, copy. The original was stolen in 2017 and has not yet been recovered, the second is coming up for auction shortly labelled as a '19th century Scottish School’ but is obviously based on Barclay’s portrait.

MacKenzie was clothed by his patron and is shown wearing the Campbell of Breadalbane tartan, one of Wilsons of Bannockburn’s Fancy Patterns that they originally called No.64/2 or Abercrombie with Yellow.

And finally, through the magic of the age, here's the man himself wearing the same tartan. Photo by D.O. Hill c 1843-47. (Credit: RCT). This must be amongst the earliest showing Highland Dress.



Here’s a specimen of Wilsons’ pattern from same period.