Bid to save historic tournament paintings

Sep 25 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

IT was one of greatest events in the world in 1839 – and it was right here in Ayrshire.

The Eglinton Tournament attracted an astonishing 100,000 people.

The medieval-style jousting event was the brainchild of the wealthy young Earl of Eglinton.

And the publicity it generated helped shape a romantic image of Victorian Scotland which still survives in some quarters.

A collection of 20 watercolour paintings recording the event have been bought by a major American museum.

But the UK government has imposed an export bar on the paintings. And this gives a UK buyer until November to match the £85,000 selling price.

Ayrshire art expert James Knox is leading the campaign to raise the funds to keep the paintings in Scotland.

Mr Knox said: “They are an amazing group of paintings of what was an extraordinary event.

“It was a kind of T in the Park of early Victorian times, when the earl decided on a whim to stage a jousting event.”

A new railway connection from London to Liverpool helped transport crowds, who boarded a new iron steamship for Ardrossan pier.

Joining the throngs at what is now Eglinton Country Park, Kilwinning, was artist James Henry Nixon, who captured eye-witness images.

Not much is known about Nixon (1802- 1857). He worked for a London stained-glass firm and also did illustrations for books by Sir Walter Scott.

But Mr Knox insisted: “These paintings should be saved for Scotland. They are incredibly vivid portrayals of all the leading players there, the flower of London and Scottish society.”