ID?

[sharpdressedscot]

OK, I've been wondering who this person is, someone told me it was an ancestor but I'm extremely doubtful. I can't find any info on the 'Net as I don't the name of the painter, painting, paintee, etc. I found his pic in a book at the Highland games once. Alas, I never found who it was. I was wondering if anyone on here knew or could help me in my quest.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Sir Alexander Macdonald, 1744 - 1795. 9th Baronet of Sleat and 1st Baron Macdonald of Slate. Painting by Sir George Chalmers.

Currently in the National Galleries.

[Dan R Porter]

Kiltmaker and tartan expert extroidenair, and also Art Historian?!?!?
Come on Matt give us a break!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Not an art historian by any means, but a kilt historian yes. Which means an interest in historic depictions on the kilt, like this one.

Take a look at this larger version.


Notice anything different about the kilt? Like oh, say, pleats in the front? :-)

[ForresterModern]

Also looks like the same tartan in different colors for the waist coat and jacket when compared to the kilt, and then either non-matching tartan hose as well.

[Kilt_Em_All]

The tartan on the waistcoat is also not on the bias. To me, it looks like the coat sleeves are the only part on the bias, but it could just be the way the sleeves are sewn on and not an actual bias.

-Elliott

[McFarkus]

Matt Newsome makes a good point. Note that the pleats are not only in front, but they are box pleats. The small kilt as we know it was standardized in the Victorian era. This guy died in 1795, less than 25 years after kilts were "re-instated" for non-military wear.

It seems that the one constant about kilts is that they keep changing.

[sharpdressedscot]

Thanks Matt!!

Hmm, so I guess this nullifies everything about wearing a kilt backwards, eh?


PS
Anyone notice he's holding what seems to be a pistol? And is that a hat in the right hand, too?

[Pleater]

The sleeves do look to be cut on the bias - it makes them more flexible and you can cut them out of less material than ones on the grain.

You can tell I've made costumes for the stage can't you. (to be read in a Marvin the Paranoid android tone)

Anne the Pleater

[ForresterModern]

And is that a hat in the right hand, too?

I am not sure but it might be an early version of a flat cap.