PORTRAIT OF MARGARET AND CHRYSTIAN GUTHRIE.

Photos: Jonathan Russell.

  • Title(s): Portrait of Margaret and Chrystian Guthrie (this web site); Margaret and Chrystian Guthrie (Painting Light and Hope exhibition, 2018-2019); Margaret and Chrystian, the daughters of D. C. Guthrie, Esq. (Royal Academy catalogue, 1907; Mellors & Kirk, 2013), Portrait of the Daughters of D. C. Guthrie, Esq. (Franco-British Exhibition, 1908).
  • Description: Two young girls in white dresses, seated on an ornate chair-bench in an interior with a large window begind them, the girl on the left boldly facing the viewer, the girl on the right bodily facing away, both with faces turned towards the viewer, a small dog at their feet, another on the bench between then, drapes either side and a broad-brimmed hat on the floor lower left, through the window open grass backed by the lower part of a tree, hedgerow and a building roof just visible, circular frame.
  • Media: Oil on canvas (apparent from photographs).
  • Dimensions: “131cm diam” (Mellors & Kirk, 2013).
  • Signature/date/other text: “signed and dated (date partly obscured by frame)” (Mellors & Kirk, 2013); “Annie L. Swynn] / ..]”.
  • History:
    • 1907 – Dated 1907.
    • 1907 – Exhibited Royal Academy- Summer Exhibition, no. 554 (catalogue).
    • 1908 – Exhibited Franco-British Exhibition, London, no. 399, “Swynnerton, A. L. (Mrs.), 1A, The Avenue, 76, Fulham Road, S.W.” (catalogue).
    • 1923 Jul – Exhibited Manchester Art Gallery – Paintings by Mrs Swynnerton, A.R.A., no. 54, “Painted at East Haddon / Lent by Mrs. Charles Guthrie“. (Exhibition catalogue; Mellors & Kirk, 2013)
    • 2013 – Auctioned Mellors & Kirk, Nottingham, 27 Nov, lot 729, “signed and dated (date partly obscured by frame), 131cm diam … Provenance: D C Guthrie, the sitters` father, thence by descent to the present vendor. / Exhibited: Royal Academy 1907, No 554 / Franco-British Exhibition (British Fine Art Section), London 1908 / City of Manchester Art Gallery, `Paints by Mrs Swynnerton, ARA,` July 1923, No.54. … The children were the daughters of David Guthrie, MP (1858-1932), of Craigie, Dundee and East Haddon Hall (1861-1918) and his wife Mary daughter of Andrew Low of Savannah. / ++In fine original condition, unlined, never varnished. Not hitherto offered for sale” (Mellors & Kirk, 2013).
    • 2018-2019 – Exhibited Manchester Art Gallery, 23 Feb 2018 to 6 Jan 2019 (loan from private collection).
  • Location: ?

“Margaret (left) and Chrystian were the daughters of American-born Mary Guthrie (née Low). Swynnerton had painted her in around 1891 … The girls’ father, David Charles Guthrie was the 5th Baron of Cragie and, from 1892, of East Haddon Hall, Northamptonshire, where Swynnerton painted this portrait.” (From notice by painting while on display at Manchester Art Gallery, Painting Light and Hope exhibition, 2018-2019.)

Page last updated 29 Oct 2025.