In the words of Victorian author, Amelia Murray MacGregor:
John MacLachlan, Hugh Graham, James MacFarlane and Angus Colquhoun. The tartans worn are MacLachlan, Graham of Menteith, MacFarlane and Colquhoun. Colquhoun's sporran has an eighteenth-century top, and he wears an old type of sword with a buff sword-knot. The background shows Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond, seen from Luss.To show four sitters in one picture seems to have posed a problem. Princess Louise was invited to make a sketch for the composition which would 'greatly facilitate the Group proposed for Mr MacLeay to paint'. The Princess's design probably reflected her mother's views; it may not have been an interference welcomed by the artist. All four sitters were painted in Edinburgh, and their travelling expenses, board and lodging paid for. These included MacLachlan's expenses for being away from his home, at Ardgour, south west of Fort William, for thirteen days, at 9. 10s. It did not 'include the cost of his Dress'. Graham, who with his old fashioned hairstyle, was the oldest of MacLeay's sitters, was refunded 3.12s. for board and lodging for himself and his daughter in Edinburgh, and his travelling expenses by rail, cab and bus of two guineas.
A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of this print will be donated to The Scottish Tartans Authority.
You can download a more detailed description of this painting by visiting The Tartan Zone.