| Description
| Portrait of the Honourable Mrs Mary Graham (nee Cathcart) (1757-1792). Artist is unknown but it is after (meaning 'a copy of') the famous painting by Thomas Gainsborough, which is in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. That painting was made from 1775-1777 but this work is likely much later. Mary Graham was married to Thomas Graham, the first Colonel of the 90th Regiment (later 2nd Battalion The Cameronians). A renowned beauty, Mary was the great love of Thomas’ life and he was devastated when she died of tuberculosis in 1792.She was born the Honourable Mary Cathcart, daughter of 9th Baron Cathcart, who was Ambassador to Catherine the Great.
The Painting is framed but not glazed. It was formerly in the regimental collection of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Dr David Christie told Curator Terry F Mackenzie a story concerning this portrait at the time of the regiment's Disbandment. At that time Major Christie was Battalion Adjutant. The 1st Battalion was by then the 2nd Battalion renamed, i.e. the battalion which was originally raised by Thomas Graham.
The portrait was glazed and hung in the room where the adjutant gave his instructions to the officers for the day. At the end of the last such parade before Disbandment as they were leaving the room, the portrait fell from the wall and the glass smashed, as if Mrs Graham was showing her disapproval at the regiment's disbandment. The glass was never replaced. |
