"Amateur Championship at Sandwich" by Michael Brown, Life Association of Scotland Calendar, 1901

Presented is a photogravure by Michael Brown entitled “Amateur Championship at Sandwich.” This print features Mr. H. Hilton and Mr. J. Robb engaged in the final of the 1900 Amateur Championship, on the 13th hole. A respected group of other players watch the two finalists. This composition was selected as the feature image for the "Life Association of Scotland" 1901 calendar, as seen here. 

James Michael Brown (1853-1947) was an accomplished Scottish water-colorist, famous for his golfing scenes of British and Scottish courses, competitions, and players. Brown often had famous golfers of the time sit for him during competitions and he used these studies to help him later reproduce accurate likenesses of the players in his paintings.

A keen golfer himself, Brown was a founder member of Mortonhall Golf Club in Edinburgh, where he was introduced to fellow member Dr. J. Turnbull Smith, the manager of the Life Association of Scotland. The Life Association of Scotland was established in Edinburgh, in 1838. It later formed the Insurance and Banking Golf Club, which then became the Duddingston Golf Club. In 1898, to mark the opening of the extended Club House, Smith commissioned Brown to paint a scene from an exhibition golf match at the Club. Brown's painting was then printed as the centerpiece of the 1899 Life Association of Scotland calendar.

Although expensive to commission and publish, The Life Association of Scotland board justified the expense of the calendar by stating, “it must surely be the aim and desire of a Life Assurance Association to prolong the lives of those who take out policies with them and what sport is there that can compare with golf as a cure for all the ills that flesh is heir to…” The calendar was a great marketing and advertising success. As a result, Brown was then commissioned to paint an annual golfing picture for the club. Prints were made of the originals and issued in the calendar for each year. Brown painted 26 paintings for the Life Association and these all adorned the walls of the Edinburgh head office for many years. The paintings portray not only Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister at Walton Heath, but also a host of famous golfing personalities like Old Tom Morris, Harry Vardon, James Braid and J.H. Taylor. 

Most of Brown’s artwork was painted in watercolor or pencil en grisaille, a technique of painting in various shades of gray washes that at first glance resemble a photograph. Celebrated in his time, Brown exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts between 1890 and 1900 and the Royal Scottish Academy of Arts between 1879 and 1897. 

CONDITION: 

Very good condition. Black and white photogravure, mounted in original "Life Association of Scotland" 1901 calendar mat surround. 1901 calendar printed on olive green mat, in brown ink, with toning and some fading to mat color, two pin holes at top of mat from previous display. Photogravure with moderate foxing. Framed in a custom wooden frame with UV Conservation clear glass. 

Framed Dimensions: 20 5/8" H x 25" W x 1" D. 

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.