Joseph Farquharson

About Joseph Farquharson (1846–1935)

Joseph Farquharson was one of Scotland’s most celebrated landscape painters, renowned for his evocative depictions of winter scenes. Born in Edinburgh in 1846, he was deeply inspired by the Scottish countryside and became best known for his atmospheric portrayals of shepherds and their flocks set against snowy landscapes at dawn or dusk. His mastery of light, shadow, and colour earned him the affectionate nickname “The Painter of Snow.”

Farquharson trained at the Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh and later studied in Paris under the influential artist Carolus-Duran, whose guidance helped refine his technical skill and dramatic sense of composition. His dedication to painting from life was legendary — he often worked outdoors in the harshest winter conditions, using a specially adapted mobile hut on wheels with a stove inside, so that he could capture the true essence of frost, snow, and low winter sunlight directly from nature.

Elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1882, Farquharson went on to gain international recognition, exhibiting widely and winning acclaim for his ability to combine natural beauty with poetic atmosphere. His work often featured sheep and shepherds, symbols of endurance and rural life, set within sweeping highland landscapes that conveyed both serenity and strength.

Today, Joseph Farquharson’s paintings remain highly sought after, celebrated for their rich detail, glowing light, and timeless ability to capture the stillness and majesty of winter. His work continues to inspire art lovers and collectors, holding an enduring place in the history of Scottish landscape painting.