David Storrar Meldrum

“ In 1862-3 Archer gave up his Edinburgh studio, 2 York Place, and removed to London, He resigned at the time his lieutenancy in the artists' company of the city of Edinburgh artillery volunteers, in which, under the captaincy of Sir Noel Paton, with John Faed as first lieutenant, was enrolled every artist of note in Edinburgh at that time. ”

“ The life-class in that year passed from the Trustees' School to the control of the Scottish Academy, and (Sir) Joseph Noel Paton [q. v. Suppl. II] , James Drummond [q. v.] , and Archer were appointed visitors. Their report on the conduct of the life-class insisted on drawing as opposed to colour in the training, a recommendation which Lauder appears to have regarded as a reflection on his own methods (cf. Hardie, Life of Pettie, p. 12) . While resident in Edinburgh, Archer showed his versatility in the many pictures which he exhibited at the Scottish Academy ”

“ NICOL, ERSKINE (1825–1904) , painter, born in Leith on 3 July 1825, was eldest son (in a family of five sons and one daughter) of James Main Nicol of that city by his wife Margaret Alexander. After a brief commercial education he became a house-painter, but quickly turned to art. He was an unusually youthful student at the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh, where he came under the joint instruction of Sir William Allan [q. v.] ”

“ Archer's generation thus immediately preceded that which studied under Scott Lauder [q. v.] , although he outlived and outworked many of Lauder's pupils. He was elected an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1850, and he became a full member in 1858. ”

“ It was generally low in tone; his skies were sometimes very luminous, but in oils his colour tended to heaviness, which was avoided in his water-colours, in which medium, though he rented it lightly, he was more successful. He practised etching during the greater part of his life, and towards the end he engraved several mezzotints. ”

“ Four years later he went to Paris, and for a short time worked in Julien's studio. Next, with a commission from Dr. White, he visited Spain. In 1892 he was elected A.R.S.A., and five years afterwards a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Oils, from which body, however, he soon resigned. He was also a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Water-colours. ”

“ His art suffered in the end through a fastidious preoccupation with the technical problems of his craft. For many years his paintings, which were not numerous, were acquired as soon as they were finished by Charles J. Galloway of Manchester, at whose death they were dispersed with the rest of his collection at Christie's on 24 June 1905, Gregory's water-colours bringing large prices.
Besides 'Dawn' and 'Boulter's Lock,' Gregory's principal oil pictures were 'Piccadilly : Drawing-room Day' (R.A. 1883) ”

“ George' (which was etched by Paul Rajon) , 'Miss Galloway,' 'The Intruders' (R.A. 1884) ; 'Marooning' (now in the Tate Gallery) (R.A. 1887) ; 'Fanny Bunter' and 'Apres,' his diploma picture (R.A. 1890) ”

“ Early in life he married Mary Irvine, whom he met in Ireland. She died in 1868. A son and daughter survived him.
[Private information; Scotsman, 13 July 1907; The Times, 13 July 1907; Graves, Royal Acad. Exhibitors, 1906 ; Cats. of Royal Acad, and Royal Scot. Acad.] ”