The Watson Gordon Chair of Fine Art is a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

ship at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

History

The chair was founded in 1880.

John Watson Gordon Sir John Watson Gordon (1788 – 1 June 1864) was a Scottish portrait painter and president of the Royal Scottish Academy. Life and work Gordon was born John Watson in Edinburgh, the eldest son of Captain Watson, R.A., a cadet of the family ...

was a Scottish painter who died in 1864. His brother and sister endowed the professorship in his memory in 1879. The establishment of the chair resulted in progress in the teaching of art history.

Professors

Gerard Baldwin Brown Gerard Baldwin Brown, FBA (31 October 1849 – 12 July 1932) was a British art historian. Life Brown was born in London, the son of church minister James Baldwin Brown and his wife, Elizabeth, a sister of the sculptor Henry Leifchild. He atten ...

1880–1930 *

Herbert Read Sir Herbert Edward Read, (; 4 December 1893 – 12 June 1968) was an English art historian, poet, literary critic and philosopher, best known for numerous books on art, which included influential volumes on the role of art in education. Read ...

1931–1933 *

David Talbot Rice David Talbot Rice (11 July 1903 in Rugby – 12 March 1972 in Cheltenham) was an English archaeologist and art historian. He has been described variously as a "gentleman academic" and an "amateur" art historian, though such remarks are no ...

1934–1972 * Giles Robertson 1973–1981 *

Eric Fernie Eric Campbell Fernie (born 9 June 1939, Edinburgh) is a Scottish art historian. Education Fernie was educated at the University of the Witwatersrand (BA Hons Fine Arts) and the University of London (Academic Diploma).‘FERNIE, Prof. Eric Camp ...

1984–1995 * Richard Thomson 1996–

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Professor of Fine Art, Watson Gordon, Edinburgh Fine Art, Watson Gordon, Edinburgh Fine Art, Watson Gordon 1880 establishments in Scotland