City Art Centre exhibition will explore "challenging hinterland" of Scottish artist Hornel's photographs

The Edinburgh City Art Centre has announced its first major exhibition of Scottish artist Edward Atkinson Hornel in 35 years.

E.A. Hornel: From Camera to Canvas will run from November 7 to March 14, and will reevaluate his paintings in light of his photography collection.

His collection of around 1,700 photographs are kept at Broughton House in Kircudbright, Hornel’s home from 1901-1933 which is now a National Trust for Scotland property.

He collected them from friends and contacts, purchased them commercially and took or posed them himself, both at home in Scotland and while travelling in Japan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

The exhibition promises to explore a “challenging hinterland” to Hornel’s paintings, with some photographs he took of girls and young women in Sri Lanka and Japan appearing “intimate or intrusive”.

It will also cast a light on his attitudes as a westener towards the foreign subjects of his photographs.

Ben Reiss, curator for the National Trust for Scotland’s Morton Photography Project said: “We are very lucky, in looking at Hornel’s work, to have such an incredible insight into the pivotal way that he used photography to create his paintings.

"Our collections at Broughton House are unique and this exhibition gives us an opportunity to share these much more widely. Exhibiting Hornel’s paintings and photographs together will let the public see, perhaps for the first time, Hornel's artistic process and attitudes, as he worked to create the idealised images which sold so well.”

“Councillor Donald Wilson, Convener of Culture and Communities said: “From Camera to Canvas will be a fantastic addition to our exhibitions at the recently reopened City Art Centre this Autumn.

"Combining his works from our Scottish art collection with those held at Broughton House, the exhibition is taking a fresh look at Hornel’s paintings alongside his extensive photographic collection.

We are proud to host the first major exhibition of EA Hornel’s work for over 35 years, and perhaps bringing his paintings to many visitors for the first time.

“The City Art Centre is one of the most accessible places in Edinburgh for art lovers and home to Edinburgh’s art collection, and we are delighted to be welcoming visitors back.”

The exhibition is free, but tickets must be booked in advance.

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