Ooops Jon, I was going to scribble something about this for you wasn't I?
It's a small exhibit on the ground floor of the (free) museum on Queen Street, and tantilisingly close to their cafe.
There are perhaps two dozen portraits of Scottish mountaineers past and present, bookended by two large oil-on-canvas pictures.
The first shows Professor James Forbes in formal pose and dress, the first man to set foot on Sgurr nan Gillean via the laughably (in hindsight!) titled "tourist route", dark background and faded oils, the epitome of a gentleman climber. The last is a newly commissioned picture of Hamish MacInnes with the three sisters in the background, bright greens and purples, a mountain man in his environment.
The stand-out portraits are those of Bill Murray in the Himalaya and Robin Smith in Glencoe. Both studies are made by friends and fellow climbers on the hill rather than professional photographers and the rawness shines through beautifully. Smith exhudes drive, determination and ambition, Murray awe and appreciation.
As a potted history of Scottish climbing it's good to see the role of the Scottish Ladies' Climbing Club recognised along with the great and the good of the SMC, JMCofS and hard men of the Creag Dubh.
If you're in Edinburgh or passing through in the next couple of months it's well worth a look in...
Posted: 25/11/2002 at 00:12
