Modern Athenians No. 10

Modern Athenians (No. 10) by Benjamin W. Crombie
C. 1837-1847
Hand-colored etching

This hand-colored etching by Benjamin W. Crombie portrays James Jollie and Robert Sym in carefully observed profile portraits that emphasize their distinctive appearances and mannerisms. Jollie stands on the left in a solid, imposing right profile, leaning on a long walking cane while wearing a voluminous, buttoned black frock coat and a tall black top hat. Facing him, Sym cuts a contrasting figure with a slender, slightly reclined posture, dressed in an open, dark brown tailcoat that reveals a prominent white ruffled cravat, paired with light gray trousers and white gaiters over his shoes. Their contrasting formal attire, individualized features, and restrained gestures reflect the conventions of nineteenth-century portraiture while subtly highlighting the unique personalities of the two Edinburgh figures.

During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Edinburgh earned the sobriquet "Athens of the North" as one of Europe's foremost centers of the Scottish Enlightenment, celebrated for its philosophers, scientists, physicians, and writers. Benjamin W. Crombie's Modern Athenians series captured the city's distinctive characters at the height of this intellectual and cultural flourishing, portraying not only prominent civic leaders but also the colorful local personalities who animated everyday life. Combining portraiture with gentle satire, the series reflects the Victorian fascination with character studies while preserving a visual record of individuals who might otherwise have been forgotten. Today, these prints are valued not only for their lively humor and skilled hand-coloring but also as important documents of nineteenth-century Edinburgh, illustrating how the city balanced its reputation for scholarship and refinement with an enduring appreciation for wit, individuality, and eccentricity.

 

Dimensions: H 11” x 16” W

Condition: In very good condition