In Conversation: Inspiring Walter Scott
26 Aug 2021
Watch online
From Waverley to Rob Roy, the romantic imagery of Sir Walter Scott’s novels has become synonymous with Scotland for readers around the world. Curators Dr Anna Groundwater and David Forsyth joined writer and critic Stuart Kelly to explore the fascinating objects from the museum’s collections that were so intrinsic to Scott’s writing process.
Speakers
Dr Anna Groundwater is Principal Curator, Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland.
David Forsyth is Interim Keeper, Art and Design at National Museums Scotland.
Stuart Kelly is a writer and critic whose work includes Scott-Land: The Man Who Invented A Nation, which was a Radio 4 Book of the Week and longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize. He is a past president of The Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club.
Learn more about the themes explored in this event at Inspiring Walter Scott, 6 August 2021—9 January 2022 at the National Museum of Scotland. In this small, free display, discover how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration.
Sir William Allan, ‘Sir Walter Scott, 1771 - 1832. Novelist and poet’, c. 1844, PG 1366 © National Galleries of Scotland. Given by the Art Fund (London Scot Bequest) 1938
Sporran clasp of brass and steel with four concealed pistols which would fire if the sporran was not opened correctly, probably the model for that worn by Rob Roy in the novel by Sir Walter Scott published in 1818.
Jacobite wine glass with a drawn trumpet shaped bowl, multi-spiral air twist stem and plain spreading foot, the bowl wheel engraved with a fully opened 6 petal rose and a closed rosebud.
Further information
- A recording of the event will be made available if you’re not able to join us on the night.
- The event will be hosted on Zoom. To book, please register your name and e-mail address via Eventbrite in the website link.
- Please note that you need only book one ticket (either an attendee ticket or an attendee with donation ticket) per household/e-mail address. Prior to the event you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to join.
- Following the talk there will be a Q & A session.
- Please note this event will be recorded but your cameras and microphones will automatically be switched off.
If you have any questions about the event, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at publicevents@nms.ac.uk.
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller.
Header image: sporran clasp of brass and steel with four concealed pistols which would fire if the sporran was not opened correctly, probably the model for that worn by Rob Roy in the novel by Sir Walter Scott published in 1818.
