The Old Justiciary Court House, Glasgow

Sir Muirhead Bone was a Scottish printmaker and watercolor artist noted for his depictions of architectural subjects, city views, and landscapes, in addition to his work as a war artist during both the First and Second World Wars. Born and raised in a Glasgow suburb, Bone first trained as an architect, but decided to pursue printmaking from 1898 onward. Although he moved to London in 1901, he often returned to Scotland. This print shows Bone's remarkable skill in rendering architectural masonry and elements in the south elevation of Glasgow's nineteenth-century court house undergoing some repair, as seen across the river Clyde. Characteristically, he chose not to depict the building's main facade, and instead chose a vantage point where he could show the side of the building that faced an ordinary riverfront populated by a few boats. At left, Bone devoted considerable expertise to detailing a partial view of the arched bridge span, shown in deep shadow. A partial view of Glasgow's skyline with a lone tall tower is visible beyond in the left background.