Farm in Landscape (oil on card)

The softened contours and colours of this atmospheric rural landscape suggests that the scene records a misty or hazy morning light. Although born in Edinburgh, both of Fergusson's parents came from farming backgrounds near Pitnacree by Pitlochry. Latterly Fergusson claimed Perthshire as his spiritual home. Unlike most of his oil ings, this example uses very thin layers of paint in the form of washes. The treatment suggest a link to watercolour which was the medium that Fergusson initially favoured. Around about 1900 Fergusson opted to use oil almost exclusively as he preferred its permanency and texture. On his death in 1961 Fergusson left the largest collection of his works in existence to his partner, Margaret Morris (1891-1980). In 1963 she established the JD Fergusson Art Foundation, who subsequently gifted the entire collection, archive and copyright to Perth and Kinross District Council in November 1991.