Wick exhibition to showcase John Nicolson – artist, sculptor, archaeologist and historian
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An exhibition in Wick is to showcase the wide-ranging talents of an artist, sculptor, archaeologist and historian who is considered to be one of the county's greatest sons.
John Nicolson (1843-1934) was self-taught, yet many eminent people came to visit his house in Auckengill and one described it as the University of Nybster.
Examples of his paintings, sculpture and archaeological work will be exhibited in Wick Heritage Museum from April 11 to May 8.
Nicolson developed an interest in modelling at an early age, originally making clay pipes that were in great demand among local fishermen and crofters, before moving on throughout his life to produce some magnificent memorial sculptures.
Ian Leith, a Wick Society trustee and one of the organising team, said: "Nicolson sculpted several gravestone memorials, often spectacular in both their size and design, and none more so that the stone in Canisbay churchyard which marks his own and his family’s burial site.
"Nicolson’s paintings are a wonderful mixture of the Caithness landscape and its people. His portraits allow the viewer to grasp a full understanding of their subjects. He knew these people, and his pencil and paintbrushes capture both their inner and outer selves."
Archaeologist and museum administrator Alexander Curle, in his diary, summed up Nicolson’s works by writing: “By nature he is an artist... his pictures are full of humour and character and his drawings of antiquities are neat and accurate.”
It was his friendship with Sir Francis Tress Barry that kindled Nicolson's interest in archaeology.
"His drawings of the archaeological finds from various digs are today recognised as a unique pictorial insight into the past," Mr Leith explained.
"He embraced the excavation work and spent many hours supervising the work and then minutely recording the scope, layout and artefacts from the various brochs."
Nicolson himself has also been immortalised in artistic terms. His likeness is captured in a fine pencil study by fellow Caithness-born artist George Bain, and the Caithness Research Society honoured Nicolson by commissioning Scott Sutherland to sculpt his portrait.
Nicolson was described by the John O’Groat Journal as “an aristocrat of the soil and the Norland race”.
Mr Leith added: “The Wick Society is honoured to be able to display the work of John Nicolson, and a huge thank-you goes to his grandson, Alistair Sutherland, and family for their support in making the collection available.
"We would also wish to thank Historic Environment Scotland for the loan of items from the Nicolson material in their care. Thanks also to Nucleus for its support."
