Attributed to William Kidd (British, 1790-1863)
John Anderson My Jo!
oil on canvas
66 x 54cm (26 x 21 1/4in).
painted circa 1833
Footnotes:
Exhibited
Probably, London, Royal Society of British Artists, 1832/33, no. 91.

The subject of the present work is taken from Robert Burns' well known poem, the theme of which is an adaptation of a traditional Scots song of the same name. Burns' version was written for inclusion in James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum. John Anderson, a carpenter by trade, was a close friend of Robert Burns who reputedly built the coffin for Burns' funeral.

The painting movingly captures the poem's theme in presenting a delicate reflection of a lady looking upon her husband and reminiscing about their life shared and how they have aged.

Although this poem has had a number of adaptations since its creation, Burns's original two verses read:

John Anderson my jo, John,
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snaw,
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson my jo!

John Anderson my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither,
And monie a cantie day, John,
We've had wi' ane anither;
Now we maun totter down, John,
And hand in hand we'll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson my jo!

A print after the present lot and dated 1833 is held in the collection of the British Museum (2010,7081.7278). This records that the print is 'From the Original Picture in the Possession of John Slater Esq.' (Kidd's patron). It is possible that this painting was sold together with a number of other works by Kidd upon Slater's death in 1837.