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Actions Displays	The Well of the Star Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number21439.1 TitleThe Well of the Star Creator Pinkie Maclure DescriptionThis beautiful stained-glass window was made by contemporary Scottish artist Pinkie Maclure in 2018. It is inspired by a Scottish short story written by Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, The Well of the Star. Cunninghame Graham was a writer, traveller and politician. He was a lifelong adventurer, whose experiences would not look out of place in a Hollywood movie: gold prospector, friend to Buffalo Bill, socialist MP and one of the fathers of Scottish Nationalism. In his story, those who look upon the star reflected in the well are given the gift of speaking the universal language of the animals. Two passing drovers fail to look, and despite the willingness of the waiting animals, the opportunity has gone. Maclure’s design brings the tale into the present day. The two figures, whether dressed from the past in tartan plaid or the present in a hoodie, are equally absorbed in their mobile phones, ignoring both their discarded takeaway cartons and the animals that surround them. As the text says, "But man, who lives an outcast from all living things...... cared not for such a gift." The animals pictured in the window are all native to Scotland. They are beautifully portrayed, yet there is warning here too. Some are currently endangered, like the Capercaillie and the Scottish wildcat. Sadly, others are already lost to us altogether, such as the elk and the wolf. Pinkie Maclure is a self-taught artist inspired by medieval stained glass. Her aim is to create beautiful work with a serious message, which questions human behaviour through her portrayal of controversial and often darkly humorous stories. Object nameStained Glass Decorative Art MaterialGlass, Paint, metal Dimensions Height: 740 mm Width: 700 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number21439.1

TitleThe Well of the Star

DescriptionThis beautiful stained-glass window was made by contemporary Scottish artist Pinkie Maclure in 2018. It is inspired by a Scottish short story written by Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, The Well of the Star. Cunninghame Graham was a writer, traveller and politician. He was a lifelong adventurer, whose experiences would not look out of place in a Hollywood movie: gold prospector, friend to Buffalo Bill, socialist MP and one of the fathers of Scottish Nationalism. In his story, those who look upon the star reflected in the well are given the gift of speaking the universal language of the animals. Two passing drovers fail to look, and despite the willingness of the waiting animals, the opportunity has gone. Maclure’s design brings the tale into the present day. The two figures, whether dressed from the past in tartan plaid or the present in a hoodie, are equally absorbed in their mobile phones, ignoring both their discarded takeaway cartons and the animals that surround them. As the text says, "But man, who lives an outcast from all living things...... cared not for such a gift." The animals pictured in the window are all native to Scotland. They are beautifully portrayed, yet there is warning here too. Some are currently endangered, like the Capercaillie and the Scottish wildcat. Sadly, others are already lost to us altogether, such as the elk and the wolf. Pinkie Maclure is a self-taught artist inspired by medieval stained glass. Her aim is to create beautiful work with a serious message, which questions human behaviour through her portrayal of controversial and often darkly humorous stories.

Object nameStained Glass

Decorative Art

MaterialGlass, Paint, metal

Dimensions

Height: 740 mm
Width: 700 mm