Striking Goudie Artwork Brings Burns Classic To Life

As Scots prepare to celebrate Burns night, we are offering the opportunity to bid on one of the most famous illustrations of the Bard’s epic poem Tam o’ Shanter.  

The First Drink, which features a detailed depiction of the titular character resting beside his white horse Meg, was painted in the late 1990s by the internationally acclaimed figurative artist, Alexander Goudie (1933-2004).  

The oil painting will headline our Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on Thursday 26^th February, with an estimate of £10,000 to £20,000. 

Tam o’ Shanter is one of Burns most famous poems and tells the tale of a drunken Ayr farmer and his horse Meg, who loses her tail as they are chased by witches and warlocks.  

A lifelong admirer of Burns, Goudie held a fascination for the poem, with his epic series of 54 paintings - housed in Rozelle House in South Ayrshire - considered the most important visual interpretation of the classic work. The collection was preserved for the nation with financial support from The Fraser Foundation, The TB Hunter Charitable Trust and The Souter Foundation, following an exceptional campaign which recognised the paintings’ cultural importance.

Alexander Goudie’s son, Lachlan Goudie, is the leading authority on his father’s work. Commenting on the auction, the acclaimed artist, author and broadcaster - who wrote and presented the landmark BBC television series ‘The Story of Scottish Art’ – said: “I think The First Drink shows my father working at the peak of his powers.  It contains fully fleshed out characters, like Tam and Souter Johnnie, which my father had developed through a series of earlier works.  

“The painting illustrates an imaginary Tam o' Shanter world overflowing with detail and period elements which my father had explored and resolved, and was able to execute in this image with real verve and humour.  I think even Robert Burns himself would have grinned with satisfaction!”

Brian Clements, our managing director, added: “Robert Burns remains as popular today as he’s ever been and anything related to him and his work creates huge interest when up for auction. 

“Alexander Goudie’s Tam o’ Shanter works are considered the quintessential visual depiction of the epic poem and there is no doubt The First Drink is amongst the very best of his paintings.  We look forward to the auction, which we are confident will attract interest from potential bidders across the globe.”

Writing in the Independent in 2004, Sir Timothy Clifford, former Director of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ''At his best, Goudie could draw better than any of his rivals in Scotland. … there was magic and vision in his art and, I expect, history will be kind to him.'' 

Seventy-nine of Goudie's paintings are held in UK public collections including at Glasgow Museums & Galleries, The Hunterian, Rozelle House Galleries, Paisley Museum & Art Galleries and The Fleming Collection (London). Goudie's paintings are held in numerous prestigious corporate collections in the UK and France and in private collections around the world.

The First Drink is being sold by an anonymous vendor who has had the painting in their family collection since it was commissioned in the late 1990s.  The work will feature in The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction at our Glasgow galleries on Thursday 26^th February.  

For a complimentary, no-obligation valuation, visit our Glasgow Galleries or contact a specialist on 0141 810 2880 or auction@mctears.co.uk.