Spot the difference with Robert Burns

Discovery of a second but very different painting showing Robert Burns as Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No.2 Edinburgh

“The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, 1st March 1787” painted by artist Brother Stewart Watson

There can be hardly a Freemason in Scotland, if not the world, that is not familiar with the painting above which resides in Freemasons Hall in Edinburgh. It has sparked much debate over the years including on the floor of The Grand Lodge of Scotland, who appointed a Special Sub-Committee of the Grand Committee to look into the history of the claim that Robert Burns was appointed Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No.2 Edinburgh.

“The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, 1st March 1787” was painted in 1846 by artist and Freemason Brother Stewart Watson, 50 years following the death of Burns and is intended to depict the inauguration event of Brother Robert Burns as Poet Laureate within The Chapel of St. John 60 years prior.

It’s commission was proposed in open Lodge and recorded in the minutes of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning at a meeting on 12th November 1845:-

“Br Marshall quoted passages from minutes of the Lodge in reference to the the attendances of Robert Burns in 1787 and laid on the table a motion that Br Watson have access to Sketch the antique and picturesque interior of the Lodge with a view to his painting the “Inauguration of Robert Burns as her Poet Laureate”, the motion to be disposed of at an after meeting. he felt assured that the subject was worth of the artist, the artist of the subject; and the whole would be creditable to the Lodge.”

The passage read by Bro. Marshall would likely have been from the Lodge minutes dated 1st February 1787:-

“The R.W.M. having observed that Brother Burns was at present in the Lodge, who is well known as a great Poetic Writer, and for a late publication of his works, which have been universally commended, and submitted that he should be assumed to be a member of this Lodge, which was unanimously agreed to, and he was assumed accordingly.”

Brother John Marshall who is believed to have paid for the commission, also produced a book that same year entitled “A Winter with Robert Burns”. This was intended to help boost sales of subsequent engravings of the painting for which he owned the rights, and it details Burns’ visit to Edinburgh, to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, of the inauguration and gives some biographical insight into some of those present in the scene.

The painting was also announced in the December 1845 issue of Freemason’s Quarterly Review.

Freemason’s Quarterly Review December 1845; page 484

What’s interesting is that people commonly use the mismatch of people from different times in the painting as proof of its inaccuracy. However reading the article above it’s clear that this was done for commercial reasons to increase the likely sales of the subsequent engravings for Bro. Marshall.

While there is still much debate around the validity of the title said to have been bestowed upon Bro. Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning (which it is not the purpose of this article to debate) there should be no doubt that Brother Robert Burns was assumed a member of the Lodge by Master Alexander Ferguson of Craigdarroch and the Brethren of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning. In modern day terms this essentially means he was made an affiliate member of that Lodge and that is important as we move on to a second painting of the Bard at Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

The Other Painting

There is another painting by Bro. Watson that is extremely similar to the “inauguration” featuring many of the same characters, including Robert Burns.