Alexander Reid of Kirkennan Munches Old Mansion House

An original c.1797 watercolour painting, Alexander Reid of Kirkennan, Munches Old Mansion House.

An extremely rare watercolour by Alexander Reid of Kirkennan (1747–1823), artist of the famous Robert Burns miniature portrait in the National Galleries of Scotland, which the poet described as 'the best likeness' of him ever to be made.

The painting shows the 18th-century Robert Adam-style residence of John Maxwell of Terraughty in Munches, Dumfriesshire. The house was demolished in 1858, and interestingly, we have found no record of this house, only of its replacement, a modern Gothic style granite mansion, built in 1858.

John Maxwell of Terraughty (1720-1814), descended from the powerful Scottish Maxwell line, was a successful and well known county figure. He bought back various family estates which had been sold due to financial difficulties, including the family estate of Terraughty, and Portrack, in the Parish of Holywood. Through his wife, Agnes Maxwell of Munches, he came to own Munches.

John Maxwell became a friend of the poet Robert Burns (1759–1796), when Burns settled in Dumfriesshire in 1788. Arguably Burns’ best lyric poetry was written during his time living at Dumfries.

On laid paper. With separate accompanying backing card giving the attribution in the hand of Reid's great-nephew, George Corson: 'Old house of Munches by Alexr Reid about 1797 or so'.