X Marks the Scot - An on-line community of kilt wearers.

**sharpdressedscot** · 5th July 09, 05:52 PM

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** · 6th July 09, 03:43 AM

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** · 6th July 09, 05:22 AM

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

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 6th July 09, 08:45 AM

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? :-)

**McFarkus** · 6th July 09, 12:08 PM

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** · 6th July 09, 12:15 PM

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** · 6th July 09, 12:56 PM

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 :ootd:

**ForresterModern** · 7th July 09, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by sharpdressedscot

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.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 7th July 09, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by 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? :-)

There is also a fair amount of over-painting visible; originally MacDonald was wearing his bonnet, and his sword was held in his right hand, point downward. You can also see over-painting to the figure's left, where the painter had the sword hanging from the baldric. I can't help but wonder if these changes were at MacDonald's insistence. Likewise, I wonder what we could learn about the missing head-gear if the painting were subjected to x-ray analysis.