A painting by one of Scotland's most celebrated 20th century artists has been reunited with a collection currently on display at the University of Aberdeen.
‘Andrew’ (1955) by Joan Eardley was secured thanks to generous support from Art Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Duncan & Susan Rice Art Fund, held by the University of Aberdeen Development Trust SCIO, and Scotland’s National Fund for Acquisitions.
Once part of the Linklater family’s personal collection the acquisition reunites the significant artwork with the University’s existing Linklater Collection, donated to the University in 1976 by Marjorie Linklater, following the death of her husband, renowned author, and Aberdeen graduate and former Rector, Eric Linklater.
The Eardley artwork arrives as the University is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Linklater Bequest with a major exhibition of its works running throughout 2026 and was unveiled at a private event last week with Magnus Linklater, Eric and Marjorie’s son.
The purchase ensures public access to this important work, particularly meaningful given Eardley’s later career was spent in Catterline, just south of Aberdeen, where she focused on painting landscapes. The new acquisition is a full-length portrait of Andrew Samson, one of a group of working-class children who were the main subject of Eardley’s painting when working in her studio in Glasgow. It also forms part of a wider institutional commitment to promoting artists, particularly women and LGBTQ+ artists, whose work has historically been marginalised and will serve as a key resource for students and researchers.
Neil Curtis, Head of University Collections, said: “This major acquisition is a significant addition to the University’s collection of 20th‑century century paintings, made possible thanks to the exceptional generosity of our funding partners. By reuniting this portrait of Andrew Samson with a Catterline landscape bequeathed by Eric Linklater, we are now able to display a more fully representative view of Joan Eardley’s work and better understand the Linklater family’s collecting legacy.”