New exhibition explores story of the woman who shaped Edinburgh’s fine art collection

It showcases over 40 historical and contemporary Scottish artworks acquired through the Jean F. Watson Bequest Fund. Featured artists include Arthur Melville, Charles Hodge Mackie, JD Fergusson, Anne Redpath, Eric Schilsky, Joan Eardley, James Cumming, Eduardo Paolozzi, Elizabeth Blackadder, Will Maclean, Alison Watt and Leena Nammari.

Jean Fletcher Watson (1877-1974) was an Edinburgh resident who had a significant impact on the city’s cultural heritage. During the 1960s and 1970s she presented a series of financial donations to the City of Edinburgh to develop a collection of Scottish art. Since then, the Jean F. Watson Bequest Fund has enabled the acquisition of more than 1,000 artworks.

This new exhibition reveals how the Fund has been used over the last six decades to build and enhance a nationally recognised art collection. It celebrates Watson’s vision and generosity, while examining the role of curators and advisors in making strategic acquisitions. Featuring examples of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture, and spanning over 250 years of artistic production, the display demonstrates the remarkable breadth and depth of the collection.

Among the highlights are Scottish Colourist JD Fergusson’s masterpiece The Blue Hat, Closerie des Lilas, Elizabeth Blackadder’s joyous watercolour Irises, a fascinating pair of calotypes by photographic pioneers Hill and Adamson, and the mesmerising painting Moon by contemporary artist Alison Watt.

The exhibition includes several recent additions to the collection, including a pandemic-inspired sculptural installation by Virginia Hutchison and a futuristic alternative-reality painting of Edinburgh by Robbie Bushe. Will Maclean’s monumental mixed-media work Mariner’s Museum / Taxonomy of Tides is also on display for the first time since its acquisition.

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said:

This exhibition is a great reminder of how someone’s generosity can shape a city’s cultural life for generations. Thanks to the vision of Jean Fletcher Watson, Edinburgh has been able to build a collection that reflects the richness and diversity of Scottish art, from drawing and painting to photography and sculpture.

Jean F. Watson: An Artistic Legacy not only celebrates that remarkable contribution but also offers residents and visitors a chance to experience works by artists such as J.D. Fergusson and Elizabeth Blackadder up close, free of charge.

Curator Dr Helen Scott said:

Jean F. Watson isn’t a well-known name, but she had a truly profound impact on the City of Edinburgh’s fine art collection. She was determined to support her native city and champion Scottish art, and her decision to donate money for the specific purpose of developing a collection in the 1960s was incredibly forward-thinking.

Today, the Jean F. Watson Bequest Fund continues to be our main source of funding for artwork acquisitions. It allows us to fill historical gaps in the collection as well as purchase new works by contemporary artists. So, Watson’s legacy not only endures, it really thrives.

This exhibition is a great opportunity to discover the story of Jean F. Watson, but also to explore some of the treasures of the fine art collection. There’s an amazing range of Scottish art here, and something for everyone to enjoy.