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CASSIE, JAMES (1819–1879),
painter, was born at Keith Hall, Aberdeenshire, in 1819. In his boyhood
he met with an accident which left him lame for life, and determined him
to devote himself to painting. He was a pupil of James Giles, R.S.A., a
painter of highland scenery and animals. Cassie settled in Aberdeen,
where the sea with its surroundings and the fisher folk that resided on
its shores were a most powerful source of attraction to him, and formed
the most popular subjects for his brush. Elaborate detail not being
suited to his style, the broad harmonious effects of marine scenery were
those which he most excelled in depicting. He did not, however, confine
himself to one class of subject, but painted numerous portraits and
domestic subjects, and showed fair skill as a painter of animals. He
exhibited several pictures at the Royal Scottish Academy and at the
Royal Academy and other London exhibitions. In 1869 he was elected
associate of the Royal Scottish Academy, and removed to Edinburgh, where
he resided till his death. In February 1879 he was elected an
academician, but he had been for some time in failing health, and died
on 11 May of the same year. Cassie's works were marked by a quiet
simplicity and harmonious tone. His friend John Phillip, R.A., painted
his portrait.
[Scotsman, 12 May 1879; Art Journal, 1879; Clement and Hutton's Artists
of the Nineteenth Century; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880;
Catalogue of Royal Scottish Academy's Loan Exhibition, 1880; information
from Mrs. Fraser and Mr. J. M. Gray.] |
