Thomas Stuart Burnett. "Eugene Aram." [Teacher and student sculpted in marble.], 1881

Item — item: 15

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Scope and Contents

Artist: Thomas Stuart Burnet, SC (1853-1888) Medium: Marble scuplture

This sculpture was gifted to the University by the Class of 1913. Mr. Floyd Gates announced the gift of this sculpture at Homecoming 1969 - just months after Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

In his comments, Mr. Gates states their class's appreciation for the opportunities provided by the University. He concluded with a poem:

We have left out footprints on the Moon
and tomorrow we sail for Mars
and they tell us that soon
we will orbit among the stars.

The greatest treasures for the good man
that we shall ever find
will come to light when we explore
the depths of the human mind.

Members of the Class included former SWT president John G. Flowers, as well as two distinguished alumni, Roy Beard and Robert Montgomery. Hillviews (vol.35 no.5 1970) noted that twenty-three living members of the Class of 1913 attended the 1969 Homecoming.

The sculpture was placed on display in the new Library-Administration Building (now JCK).

Dates

1881

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction. Some items oversized or fragile. Materials may be stored off-site, advance notice may be required for use.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Stuart Burnett (1853–1888) was a Scottish sculptor in the 19th century. He was born in Edinburgh, the son of James Burnett, a lithographic printer and Japanner living at 34 Toddrick's Wynd on the Royal Mile.

He studied under William Brodie and at the School Board of the Trustees on Picardy Place (run by the trustees of the Royal Scottish Academy). There he won their gold medal for the year in 1875. In 1876 he entered the RSA Life School, focussing upon the human form and won the Stuart Prize in 1880.

In 1881 he is recorded as living with William Geddes at Gowan Brae Cottage, Perth Street, Perth.

He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1883.

He died in Edinburgh in 1888 (several newspapers gave the cause of death as 'congestion of the lungs') and is buried in the north section of the original Dean Cemetery, towards the western end, with his wife Margaret Irving. The red sandstone celtic cross is eroding but has a fine profile head of Burnett, sculpted by John Stevenson Rhind.

Citation: Wikipedia contributors, "Thomas Stuart Burnett," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Stuart_Burnett&oldid=1080828579 (accessed July 26, 2022).