James Paterson PRSW RSA RWS (British, 1854-1932) Mrs Monteith, half-length, in black 71 x 53.5 cm. (27 15/16 x 21 1/16 in.)James Paterson PRSW RSA RWS (British, 1854-1932)Mrs Monteith, half-length, in black signed 'James Paterson A.R.S.A./Moniaive 1896' (mid left), further inscribed 'Mrs Monteith/Moniaive./James Paterson./1894-1896' (verso)oil on canvas71 x 53.5 cm. (27 15/16 x 21 1/16 in.)ProvenanceSale; Bonhams, Edinburgh, 26 August 2005, lot 1075In 1884 Paterson moved to the Dumfriesshire village of Moniavie and became friends with many members of the local community, including the Monteiths.This is a portrait of Mrs Ellen Maria Monteith (née Neve) (1845–1912), who went on to build Glenluiart. This impressive Arts and Crafts house was built in 1900 and was designed by Ellen's brother, the architect William West Neve. The fact that Mrs Monteith was the driving force behind the build was not the norm in late Victorian times. Ellen was widowed in 1886 after her husband Reverend John Monteith (1837–1886), the local minister, was killed in a tragic accident. As the manse was a tied house, she had no option but to move out. In 1899, after her father died and left her the substantial sum of £16,933, her plans for a house in the Glen started to take shape in the form of Glenluiart.University of Glasgow Special Collections have a photographic glass slide negative in their archive, 'Family friend Mrs Monteith sitting in the studio Kilniess with fan and china jar with paintbrushes in background. Photograph by James Paterson.' So it is possible that Paterson painted Mrs Monteith on more than one occasion.