James Pittendrigh Macgillivray

Who was James Pittendrigh Macgillivray?

Dr. James Pittendrigh MacGillivray was a prominent Scottish sculptor. He was also a keen amateur poet, musician and artist. He was born in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, the son of a sculptor, and studied under William Brodie and John Mossman. His works include public statues of Robert Burns in Irvine, Lord Byron in Aberdeen, the 3rd Marquess of Bute in Cardiff, John Knox in Edinburgh's St Giles Cathedral, and William Ewart Gladstone in Coates Crescent Gardens, Edinburgh.

His work was influenced greatly by Pictish designs, and these are on display in Perth. He is sometimes linked with the Scottish Renaissance movement. Hugh MacDiarmid was amongst his admirers.

Alloway village hall contains his sculpture of Robert Burns.

MacGillivray also published two volumes of verse which draw on Doric dialect and earlier forms of Lowland Scots - Pro Patria in 1915 and Bog Myrtle and Peat Reek in 1922. He became a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1901 and was appointed the King's Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland in 1921.