Italian museum acquires painting by Wick artist Ian Charles Scott
A museum in Italy that contains works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo is now home to a painting that shows a striking Caithness scene.
Sinclair and Girnigoe Resurgam, by Wick artist Ian Charles Scott, has been on show at Fabriano Paper and Watermark Museum after being shortlisted for a biennial watercolour competition.
The museum, which covers 700 years of papermaking history, has now acquired the painting for its permanent collection.
The Covid-inspired work features enigmatic figures in diving suits accompanied by a pink spoonbill bird that is being rowed towards dark and ominous ruins of Sinclair and Girnigoe.
Scott (66), a specialist in oil and watercolour, is arts professor at Hostos Community College in New York.
“It is still unbelievable to see how my work has been spread around the world and is now at the Fabriano Paper and Watermark Museum, which has works by Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael and Dürer,” Scott said.
“I am honoured to be in the same space as the world’s most famous artists.”
The painting reflects the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was inspired by the sense of fear surrounding the virus and the need for protection in an unfamiliar world.
“The air felt dangerous during that time – you couldn’t breathe the same air as someone else without fear,” Scott said.
Scott was one of 56 artists in the 8th International Watercolour Biennial, described as the most prestigious watercolour summit in the world, held in Fabriano.
The town in Italy’s Marche region is renowned for its papermaking tradition, which has been documented since the 12th century, and the museum focuses on handmade paper and watermark techniques from medieval Italy.
Scott had three paintings at the Society of Caithness Artists’ exhibition in Thurso during the summer.
He also donated works this year to Wick railway station and Wick Harbour Authority.
Scott is working on an exhibition inspired by his friendship with the late Orkney poet George Mackay Brown (1921-1996).
