Sir Daniel Macnee, PRSA 

James Archer painted this portrait of Sir Daniel Macnee using oil on canvas sometime in the 19th century. Both artist and sitter were prominent figures in the Scottish art scene. As a process, oil painting involves grinding pigments into linseed or walnut oil. Archer would have built up layers of paint, controlling the viscosity of the medium to create various effects. Look closely and you’ll see a contrast between the smoother rendering of Macnee's face, and the looser brushwork of his coat. Sir Daniel holds the tools of his trade: a brush and palette. He presents himself as a man of labor, though one of considerable status. The time, effort, and skill required to create such a painting speaks to the value placed on artistic craftsmanship during the period. This image shows that distinctions between art and craft are less important than the act of making itself.