Titles

Suggested titles are as follows:

• 'The Grey Man' (1908, Pennell). 1
• 'The Grey Man: Portrait of S. R. Crockett' (1980, YMSM). 2

Description

A portrait of a man. Crockett had dark hair with a central parting, and a short bushy beard and moustache.

Sitter

S. R. Crockett, photograph

Samuel Rutherford Crockett (1860-1914) was born in Galloway on 24 September 1860, was minister of Penicuik from 1886, and died on 21 April 1916. He published many poems and novels, mostly on Scottish subjects, including The Grey Man – a novel set in Ayrshire in the seventeenth century – which was published by Unwin's in 1896.

Arthur Jerome Eddy (1859-1920) tells a story about Whistler that may refer to the portrait of Crockett:

'He was once painting the portrait of a distinguished novelist, who, though extremely clever, was not blessed with the fatal gift of beauty. When the portrait was finished, the sitter did not seem satisfied with it. "Don't you like it?" enquired Whistler. "No; can't say I do. But," in self justification, "you must admit that it is a bad work of art." "Yes," Whistler replied; "but I think you must admit that you are a bad work of nature." ' 3