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Enigmata is an exhibition dedicated to one of Scottish art’s most distinguished sons, James Cowie. Throughout the course of the 20th century there were certain artists who followed their own path out with the mainstream and Cowie was one of these painters.
In Scotland, most painters followed the Colourist tradition and the School of Paris. Cowie looked further back; he was a great admirer of artists like Poussin and the Pre-Raphaelites. He felt he shared their classical values of self-restraint and objectivity. He had a meticulous way of working and believed that art was a product of thought and reason, rather than a spontaneous reaction to the subject.
Born in Aberdeenshire, Cowie studied at Glasgow School of Art. He later taught at Bellshill Academy, near Glasgow, followed by the position of Warden at Hospitalfield House. It was here Cowie taught Joan Eardley, with whom he famously clashed over their different approaches to painting. Cowie’s style of painting was precise and linear. A great admirer of artists like Poussin and the pre-Raphaelite painters, he felt he shared their classical values of self-restraint and objectivity. He had a meticulous way of working and believed that art was a product of thought and reason.
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