Ramsay MacDonald with members of his family

Sittersback to top

• Margaret MacGregor ('Peggy') Angus (1904-1993), Painter. Sitter in 1 portrait, Artist of 2 portraits.
• Ishbel Allan MacDonald (Mrs Peterkin) (1903-1982), Daughter of James Ramsay MacDonald. Sitter in 3 portraits.
• Malcolm John MacDonald (1901-1981), Labour politician and diplomat; son of James Ramsay MacDonald. Sitter in 15 portraits.
• (James) Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937), Prime Minister. Sitter in 52 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Margaret MacGregor ('Peggy') Angus (1904-1993), Painter. Artist of 2 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

The illegitimate son of a Scottish farm-girl, Macdonald was born in a two-roomed 'but and ben' at Lossiemouth in Morayshire and worked his way up the ranks to become the first Labour Prime Minister of Britain in 1924. This group was painted at Chequers and shows the artist (standing by the piano) with members of the Macdonald family: Ramsay Macdonald is seated reading a newspaper and in the foreground is his son Malcolm and his daughter Ishbel. The family's housekeeper is at the piano, and Alister Macdonald's children play on the floor.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Rideal, Liz, Insights: Self-portraits, 2005, p. 49
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 729

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Family Faces (14 February 2005 - 4 September 2005)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Art in art
• Clocks and timepieces
• Eyeglasses and spectacles
• Family portraits
• Group portraits
• Known interiors
• Making music
• Reading
• Self-portraits