Bruce, George

Gender:

Male

Date and place of birth:

1775, presumed Edinburgh

Date and place of death:

dec. 25.09.1846, 12 London Row, Leith. bur. 29.09.1846, Rosebank Cemetery, Edinburgh

Worked:

fl. 1792- ca.1845

Known places of work:

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leith

Known techniques:

Painted on ivory and plaster

Known materials:

Ivory and plaster

Frames:

Oval fruitwood, oval hammered brass, papier mâché, jewellery settings, leather and shagreen travel cases

Signature:

Recorded

Introduction:

The pupil of accomplished profilist Samuel Houghton, GEORGE BRUCE (ca. 1775-1846) is noteworthy for the longevity of his career and inexplicable scarcity of his work. Bruce's early profiles are markedly similar in quality and execution to those of Houghton and John Miers. This is unsurprising, as recent research discovered Houghton himself to have been Miers' own pupil.

Painting on plaster and also on ivory for jewellery settings, as Bruce worked for over 50 years, his style changed considerably and the few works recorded after 1820 generally lack the finesse of his earlier output. Apart from one printed trade label illustrated by McKechnie and evidencing a short stay in Glasgow ca.1797, Bruce spent his career in Edinburgh until removing to the seaport of Leith in 1833.

Recently sourced newspaper advertisements record as Houghton's sole pupil, Bruce worked for him only between July 1791 and July 1792, after which Houghton became incapacitated by a malady which, though no definitive date has surfaced, likely caused his demise by March 1793 at the latest.

In brief, the CALEDONIAN MERCURY 2nd July 1791 marks Houghton's arrival in Edinburgh "...from London...[as]...long a pupil..." of John Miers. A year later 26th July 1792, the same newspaper advertises "Mr.Houghton's...Business is now carried on IN ALL ITS BRANCHES BY GEORGE BRUCE FOR THE JOINT BEHOOF OF MR. HOUGHTON'S FAMILY AND HIMSELF...". Essentially the same advertisement appears in the CALEDONIAN MERCURY 30th March 1793, with mention now made of ...the late Mr. Houghton".

It's noteworthy that as Bruce died aged 71 in 1846, he was no more than 17 when he took over Houghton's concern. No doubt anticipating Houghton's celebrity, albeit posthumous, would continue drawing custom, Bruce traded as 'HOUGHTON & BRUCE' between 1792-1797. In July 1795, the last of a short series of advertisements appearing in the CALEDONIAN MERCURY stated "Houghton and Bruce...still continue to take profile likenesses..." which is strange, given that Houghton had been dead for more than 2 years! The curious partnership ended when Bruce wed Houghon's widow in 1797 and began trading under his own name.

Appearing without interruption in EDINBURGH and LEITH POST OFFICE and GRAYS directories between 1797-1846, he is primarily listed a Miniature Painter. Three advertisements in the CALEDONIAN MERCURY in July 1802, June 1804 and January 1807, show Bruce offering instruction in "...the Art of Miniature Painting", though as far as known, no miniatures by him are recorded,and perhaps tellingly, no mention is made of him in Basil Long's definitive BRITISH MINIATURISTS (1929).

Offering 'coloured sketches' on paper, and later advertising as a Drawing Master, it's surprising he placed only 5 advertisements, all between 1797-1808. In June 1804, he related he "...retained all his original sketches, also those of his predecessor Mr.Houghton, so those who have sat to each may have copies". In 1808, he advertises his profiles as."...well-known throughout Scotland". However, while the rarity of Houghton's profiles can be explained by his sudden demise, less explicable is the scarcity of works by Bruce. This is odd, as with the building of Edinburgh New Town and the later Eastern New Town in the 1820s, Bruce was perfectly placed to be patronised by their monied residents.

Bruce himself is recorded at 11 addresses in Edinburgh and 3 in Leith. After 1802, all bar one of his Edinburgh abodes were newly built in the Calton Hill area east of the city, the exception being 'Head of Stevenlaws Close, High Street', in Edinburgh's Old Town, where Bruce is recorded in 1798-1801 and again in 1821-1824, which suggests it was a family-owned property.

Regarding Bruce's family circumstances, it's probable he was born in Edinburgh in April 1775 to George Bruce, (occupation unknown) and Jacobina Foy (dec.1805), daughter of a writing master.

On 7th January 1797 Bruce married Houghton's widow. In October 1820 'by right of his wife', Bruce became a Burgess (Freeman) and Guild Brother of Edinburgh. Why he waited 23 years to pursue the entitlement is unclear. Agnes Houghton (1764-N/K) was the daughter of John Caitcheon, an Edinburgh carver, gilder and architectural ornament maker. Eleven years older than Bruce, she was twice-widowed. She first wed apothecary and Baptist preacher Robert Moncrieff in 1784, then Bruce's tutor Samuel Houghton in August 1791. There is no evidence of offspring from either union.

Agnes bore 3 children between 1798 and ca.1811: George Bruce Jnr (1798-after 1851) became a ship's master; Jessie Addison Bruce (N/K-1826) is known solely from her obituary, but likely ran 'Miss Bruce's Sewing School'. Listed between 1823-1827 at Stevenlaws Close, High Street, Edinburgh directories show the address was also George Bruce Snr's own between 1821-1824; Agnes Bruce (ca. 1811-N/K), after her sister's death, becomes 'Miss Bruce, Teacher of Reading, Music, Piano and Sewing' listed between 1826-1841 at the same abodes as her profilist father.

In the CALEDONIAN MERCURY 3rd December 1842, mention is made of a series of poems on the subject of the 'visit of her Majesty' by George Bruce Snr of Leith. As Bruce the artist added 'Snr' to some of his Leith directory entries, it's probable the poems that eventually reached Prince Albert (1819-1861) who proffered his "...best thanks" originated from the profilist's pen. Interestingly, Edinburgh profilist and miniaturist George Marshall Mather (1800-1887) was also sufficiently stirred by the Muse to have published an ode on the birth of Edward, Prince of Wales.

In November 1843 being "...in a weak and afflicted state...", Bruce willed his estate to "...his beloved daughter Agnes". Recorded with him in the 1841 Census, it's probable she nursed him through his final years. His brief obituary was announced in the CALEDONIAN MERCURY 1st October 1846. "At 12 London Row, Leith, on the 25th...[September], Mr. George Bruce, Artist". Aged 71 and dying of 'debility', he was interred in Edinburgh's Rosebank Cemetery 29th September 1846.

Revised 29 January 2025 (Brian Wellings)