Artwork
Andro' wi' his cutty gun
Andro' wi' his cutty gun is an oil painting by Alexander Carse. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1817 by Scottish artist Alexander Carse, this oil painting captures a domestic interior where a family gathers around a table. The work is part of the collection of the Scottish National Gallery and exemplifies Carse’s interest in everyday Scottish life during the early nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centres on a husband and wife seated together while a child plays on the floor, a dog rests by the hearth, and a fire glows in the fireplace. The arrangement of figures, objects and animals conveys a sense of familial warmth and the routine comforts of a rural household.
Technique & Style
Carse employs a palette of warm hues and soft illumination to model the interior, creating a gentle chiaroscuro that emphasizes the firelight against the surrounding shadows. The brushwork is detailed yet restrained, allowing textures of wood, fabric and fur to emerge without overt dramatization.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed during Carse’s most productive period, when he produced genre scenes alongside historical and sporting subjects such as depictions of George IV’s visit to Leith. After changing hands in private collections, it entered the Scottish National Gallery, where it remains on display as a representative example of early‑19th‑century Scottish genre painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexander Carse (c. 1770 – February 1843) was a Scottish painter known for his scenes of Scottish life. His works include a large canvas of George IV's visit to Leith and three early paintings of football matches.
Home and the Homeless
A Kitchen Interior
The Happy Family
Peasant Meal
Kreeta Haapasalo soittaa kannelta talonpoikaistuvassa
A Country Kitchen
Allegory of the Five Senses
The 50th Wedding Anniversary
Peasant Interior
In Front of the Village Inn
Interior, with an old woman peeling apples
A monkey feast or The King drinks