July 10th 1735

Art draws reaction

An exhibition was shown in Edinburgh by a Mr Yaseley Davidson, “the like never before seen in Great Britain.”  There was a “collection of curiosities,”  which included a picture said to have been painted by Raphael of the Saviour on the Cross and a view of the interior of St Peter’s in Rome. After some weeks in Edinburgh the exhibition was removed to the tavern in Bridgend, occupied by a Mr Murray.

“Here in Perth in consequence of a ‘pathetic sermon’ preached by one of the ministers, and certain printed letters industriously circulated on the subject of these works of art, a crowd of the meaner sort of people rose tumultuously on the 10th of July and, crossing the Tay by ferry boat, proceeded to Murray’s house, crying out: ‘Idolatry! Molten and graven images! Popery! And so forth. Then, surrounding the door, they attempted to enter for the purpose of dragging forth the pictures, and were only with difficulty withstood by the landlord, who, backed by his hostler, planted himself with a drawn cutlass in the doorway.

Time was thus given for some gentlemen of Perth to come to the rescue, and also to allow of the Earl of Kinnoull’s bailie of regality to come forward in behalf of the peace; whereupon the men concerned in the mob withdrew, the women still standing at the doors of the house, crying out; ‘Idolatry! ‘Idolatry and Popery’ and threatening still to burn the house, or have the pictures and graven images destroyed, till some dozens of the female ringleaders were carried over the river to Perth, the rest dispersing gradually of their own accord. Immediately after, the poor stranger was glad to make the best of his way and went straight in a boat to Dundee, which the mobbers no sooner perceived, but they sent an express by land to that place to prompt some of the zealous there to mob him at landing.” 

Similar scenes took place at Dundee and Mr Davidson and his exhibition soon beat a hasty retreat back to the more broadminded citizens of Edinburgh.