James Dennistoun
Encyclopedia
James Dennistoun, of Dennistoun
(1803–1855) was a Scottish
antiquary and art collector.
Dennistoun, eldest son of James Dennistoun, who died 1 June 1834, by Mary Ramsay, daughter of George Oswald of Auchencruive, was born in Dumbartonshire in 1803, and after receiving his education at the universities of Edinburgh
and Glasgow
, became a member of the Faculty of Advocates
in 1824.
He early, however, evinced a taste for legal and historical antiquities, and made some progress in the collection of materials for a history of his native county. During a continental tour
in 1825 and 1826, in which his companions were Mr. Mark Napier, Mr. Hamilton Gray, and Sir Charles Fergusson, the art
and literature of Italy
first engaged his attention. After his father's death he was obliged to part with the estate on the shores of the Clyde which for six centuries had been the seat of his family, but with some portion of his remaining fortune he was enabled to purchase the farm of Dennistoun in Renfrewshire
, the centre of the original possessions of his family in that county. In 1836 he again went abroad, and spent twelve years away from home, chiefly devoting himself to literary research and to the examination of the monuments of art. The winter generally found him at Rome
, while the summers were given to journeys in Italy
and Germany
. He formed a small but choice collection of early Italian pictures, drawings, and mediæval antiquities, with which he adorned his house in George Street, Edinburgh
, his permanent abode from 1847. He was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Renfrew
, and became a member of most of the societies formed for collecting materials for illustrating the history of Scotland
. For the Bannatyne Club
he edited ‘Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland from 1577 to 1603’, by David Moysie
, 1830. For the Maitland Club, ‘Cartularium comitatus de Levenax, ab initio seculi decimi tertii usque ad annum MCCCXCVIII.,’ 1833; the ‘Cochrane Correspondence regarding the Affairs of Glasgow 1745–6,’ 1836; the ‘Coltness Collections 1608–1840,’ 1842, and, as co-editor with Alexander Macdonald, ‘Miscellany, consisting of Original Papers illustrative of the History and Literature of Scotland,’ vols. i. ii. and iii., 1834, &c. He also wrote a ‘Letter on the Scotish [sic] Reform Bill by a Conservative,’ 1832; ‘Memoirs of Sir Robert Strange, engraver, and of his brother-in-law, Andrew Lumisden, private secretary to the Stuart Princes,’ 1855, 2 vols.; and ‘Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, illustrating the Arms, Arts, and Literature of Italy from 1440 to 1630,’ 3 vols. 1851; the latter a learned contribution to the knowledge of an obscure yet very interesting period of the annals of Italy. To the ‘Quarterly Review
,’ December 1846, pp. 141–67, he furnished an article on ‘The Stuarts in Italy,’ and to the ‘Edinburgh Review
,’ October 1854, pp. 461–490, a review of Mr. Burton's ‘History of Scotland.’ He gave valuable evidence before the committee of the House of Commons on the National Gallery in 1853, and furnished an analysis of the report of the committee to the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ April 1854, pp. 526–56.
He married in 1835 Isabella Katharina, eldest daughter of the Hon. James Wolfe Murray, Lord Cringletie.
He died at 119 George Street, Edinburgh
, 13 Feb. 1855, aged fifty-two. The greater portion of Dennistoun's collection of pictures, drawings, and antiquities was sold at Christie & Manson's on 14 June 1855.
Dennistoun
Dennistoun is a district of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated north of the River Clyde in the east end of the city. It is made up of a number of smaller districts - Milnbank to the north, 'The Drives' in the centre of the area and Bellgrove below Duke Street to the south. In a 2004...
(1803–1855) was a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
antiquary and art collector.
Dennistoun, eldest son of James Dennistoun, who died 1 June 1834, by Mary Ramsay, daughter of George Oswald of Auchencruive, was born in Dumbartonshire in 1803, and after receiving his education at the universities of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, became a member of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1824.
He early, however, evinced a taste for legal and historical antiquities, and made some progress in the collection of materials for a history of his native county. During a continental tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
in 1825 and 1826, in which his companions were Mr. Mark Napier, Mr. Hamilton Gray, and Sir Charles Fergusson, the art
Art of Italy
The history of Italian art is in many ways also the history of Western art. After Etruscan civilization and especially the Roman Republic and Empire that dominated this part of the world for many centuries, Italy was central to European art during the Renaissance. Italy also saw European artistic...
and literature of Italy
Italian literature
Italian literature is literature written in the Italian language, particularly within Italy. It may also refer to literature written by Italians or in Italy in other languages spoken in Italy, often languages that are closely related to modern Italian....
first engaged his attention. After his father's death he was obliged to part with the estate on the shores of the Clyde which for six centuries had been the seat of his family, but with some portion of his remaining fortune he was enabled to purchase the farm of Dennistoun in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, the centre of the original possessions of his family in that county. In 1836 he again went abroad, and spent twelve years away from home, chiefly devoting himself to literary research and to the examination of the monuments of art. The winter generally found him at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, while the summers were given to journeys in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He formed a small but choice collection of early Italian pictures, drawings, and mediæval antiquities, with which he adorned his house in George Street, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, his permanent abode from 1847. He was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Renfrew
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, and became a member of most of the societies formed for collecting materials for illustrating the history of Scotland
History of Scotland
The history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
. For the Bannatyne Club
Bannatyne Club
The Bannatyne Club was founded by Sir Walter Scott to print rare works of Scottish interest, whether in history, poetry, or general literature. It printed 116 volumes in all. It was dissolved in 1861....
he edited ‘Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland from 1577 to 1603’, by David Moysie
David Moysie
David Moysie was a Scottish notary public, known as author of the Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland, 1577-1603.-Life:He was by profession a writer and notary public. A notarial attestation of a lease by him occurs in 1577...
, 1830. For the Maitland Club, ‘Cartularium comitatus de Levenax, ab initio seculi decimi tertii usque ad annum MCCCXCVIII.,’ 1833; the ‘Cochrane Correspondence regarding the Affairs of Glasgow 1745–6,’ 1836; the ‘Coltness Collections 1608–1840,’ 1842, and, as co-editor with Alexander Macdonald, ‘Miscellany, consisting of Original Papers illustrative of the History and Literature of Scotland,’ vols. i. ii. and iii., 1834, &c. He also wrote a ‘Letter on the Scotish [sic] Reform Bill by a Conservative,’ 1832; ‘Memoirs of Sir Robert Strange, engraver, and of his brother-in-law, Andrew Lumisden, private secretary to the Stuart Princes,’ 1855, 2 vols.; and ‘Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, illustrating the Arms, Arts, and Literature of Italy from 1440 to 1630,’ 3 vols. 1851; the latter a learned contribution to the knowledge of an obscure yet very interesting period of the annals of Italy. To the ‘Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
,’ December 1846, pp. 141–67, he furnished an article on ‘The Stuarts in Italy,’ and to the ‘Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
,’ October 1854, pp. 461–490, a review of Mr. Burton's ‘History of Scotland.’ He gave valuable evidence before the committee of the House of Commons on the National Gallery in 1853, and furnished an analysis of the report of the committee to the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ April 1854, pp. 526–56.
He married in 1835 Isabella Katharina, eldest daughter of the Hon. James Wolfe Murray, Lord Cringletie.
He died at 119 George Street, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, 13 Feb. 1855, aged fifty-two. The greater portion of Dennistoun's collection of pictures, drawings, and antiquities was sold at Christie & Manson's on 14 June 1855.