Blue Ghost Post: Christmas Eve Anticipation

One might wonder why I am so fond of John Everett Millais' painting, Christmas Eve (1887). I believe this painting illustrates well a quote from the book I am reading, An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin... "Those artworks that come all ready to love empty out pretty quickly."

Millais is the British Pre-Raphaelite who is probably best known for his earlier painting of Ophelia, capturing her as she floats down a Denmark river, singing. Millais' first snow scene, Chistmas Eve, is painted at the old castle of Murthly overlooking the Tay River near Dunkeld in the highlands of Perthshire, Scotland. Each winter over several years, Millais along with his wife and children, rented Birnam Hall Lodge in the gardens of the castle. It was a location he knew well and loved and was also near his wife's home place. To me, this painting is everything Scottish. Some may describe the scene as bleak yet I see it as one of serene beauty with a hint of new beginnings which will be brought with the impending darkness. There is barely enough snow to cover the bird's feet...and you can still feel and smell the rich earth and leaves. Humans are absent....or are they? Look at the tracks which are reminders of the activities of the day. There was a sled or buggy ride in the snow, a walk to the castle, and a dog passing. One feels the contrast of human and nature's activity. The Jackdaws are all that are left to survey the day's fun as the family has now gathered in the castle as the sunset and warm fire within the castle walls light the windows. Everyone is inside, darkness is finally arriving and the excitement and fun of Christmas will begin. The darkness in the sky and grounds only adds to the warmth inside. It is the ultimate moment of Christmas anticipation...sunset. This is a painting whose meaning, for me at least, is defined by its title. It also brings back a wonderful, yet simple, Christmas memory. In the mid 60's when my sister and I were around 10 and 11, my mother had developed a Christmas Eve afternoon tradition of letting us walk to the double feature at the movie theatre near our house. It was a way for us to be occupied as it got our minds off of opening presents and she had the afternoon to prepare Christmas Eve dinner and wrap more gifts. We would leave for the movies after lunch and as we left the theatre to walk home it was 5:00 or so...about the same time as in the painting. The fun was ready to begin and we couldn't wait to get home. Our walk through the almost deserted town and neighborhood had this same combination of joy and serenity as we approached our own warm "Castle".

As with all castles, Murthly comes with its share of history and lore. It has been owned by the same family, the Stewarts, since 1615. It was the family seat of Sir William Drummond Stewart, an aristocratic adventurer who saw the American West as his vast playground. From his Wild West adventures he returned to the castle with mementos including buffalo which he used to establish a herd on the property, Douglas Firs and Sequoias, and two Native American Indians who resided in the garden cottage. There is a story that the Indian companions became bored with Scottish high life so they had a few drinks, attached a rowboat to four wagon wheels, hitched two buffalo up, then rode the boat-wagon through town for some fun.

Coincidentally, I discovered while writing this that Christmas Eve was auctioned at Sotheby's last week. I wonder if it was purchased and by whom...