Eric Robertson, 1887 – 1941

The 16 Most Famous Paintings by Eric Robertson

The painting that made Eric Robertson famous is Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife (1924). Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott (1915) and Cartwheels (1921) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 16 works by Eric Robertson in our catalogue, these 16 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.

Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

Portrait of Eric Robertson
Eric Robertson · 1887 – 1941
Born · died
1887 – 1941, Dumfries
Works in our catalogue
16
Most famous
Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife (1924)
Most works at
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Eric Robertson: the ten masterpieces

Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott (1915) by Eric Robertson
2

Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott

1915 · Oil On Canvas · Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

In Eric Robertson's 1915 portrait, Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott sit side-by-side, their presence filling a vertical arrangement that commands the viewer's immediate attention. They are positioned slightly off-center within an intimate interior, creating a sense of quiet dignity. A soft, directional light flows from the upper left, casting gentle shadows that model the contours of their faces and the heavy folds of their garments. This light catches the…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 28 × 35 cm Same size as the original $879 137 × 170 cm Order at original size →
Cartwheels (1921) by Eric Robertson
3

Cartwheels

1921 · Oil On Canvas · Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh

In "Cartwheels" by Eric Robertson, a sense of profound instability grips the viewer. The scene unfolds as a dynamic and somewhat chaotic event, where several human-like forms appear caught in a moment of intense struggle. These figures are positioned amidst a rugged landscape of mountainous terrain and a body of water, their postures suggesting deep exertion and distress. The entire composition is dominated by sharp diagonal lines that slice through…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 38 × 27 cm Same size as the original $624 144 × 103 cm Order at original size →

More Eric Robertson masterpieces, 11 to 16

Recon-Screen\n\nReference Image by Eric Robertson
#16

Recon-Screen\n\nReference Image

Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu

The Recon-Screen installation consists of a large, openwork facets-screens produced in the system for compiling related segments. They consist of white and red wooden slats that form a…

Bring it home from $181 →

The subjects Eric Robertson painted most

The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.

Where to see Eric Robertson's paintings

The 5 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Eric Robertson Paintings from this list
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, EdinburghScottish National Gallery of Modern Art Edinburgh 2 Cartwheels, Fleet Bay, Kirkcudbrightshire
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, EdinburghScottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh 1 Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery - Museum, StirlingThe Stirling Smith Art Gallery - Museum Stirling 1 Sheba, the Night and the Moon
The Fleming Collection, LondonThe Fleming Collection London 1 Robert the Bruce and de Bohun
Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu, TorunCentre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu Torun 1 Recon-Screen\n\nReference Image

Eric Robertson, decade by decade: the defining painting of each

  1. 1910s
    Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott (1915) by Eric Robertson
    Rank 2 / 16

    Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott

    Age 23 – 32 · Scottish National Portrait Gallery

    In Eric Robertson's 1915 portrait, Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott sit side-by-side, their presence filling a vertical arrangement that commands the viewer's immediate attention. They are positioned…

  2. 1920s
    Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife (1924) by Eric Robertson
    No. 1 of 16

    Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife

    Age 33 – 42

    The oil on canvas painting titled Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife, created in 1924, depicts a woman seated in a composed manner. She is wearing a white veil…

  3. 1930s
    Liverpool Cathedral (1930) by Eric Robertson
    #11 of 16

    Liverpool Cathedral

    Age 43 – 52

    The Liverpool Cathedral painting by Eric Harald Macbeth Robertson is a stunning representation of the iconic cathedral in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Created in 1930, this oil on canvas…

Eric Robertson's masterpieces: questions and answers

Which painting is Eric Robertson best known for?Show the answer

Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife (1924). Next come Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott (1915) and Cartwheels (1921).

How old was Eric Robertson when painting Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife?Show the answer

37 years old: Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife dates from 1924 and Eric Robertson was born in 1887.

What are Eric Robertson's ten greatest paintings?Show the answer

Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife, Miss Maidie and Miss Elsie Scott, Cartwheels, Sheba, the Night and the Moon, The Red Tree, Cecile, Despair, Love's Invading, Sheriff Robert Macaulay Smith and Fleet Bay, Kirkcudbrightshire. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.

How many works did Eric Robertson paint?Show the answer

Our catalogue lists 16 works by Eric Robertson, dated from 1913 to 1930.

In which museums can I see Eric Robertson's masterpieces?Show the answer

Most of them are in Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Edinburgh), Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Edinburgh) and The Stirling Smith Art Gallery - Museum (Stirling). The table above lists the museums one by one.

When did Eric Robertson paint the masterpieces?Show the answer

In 1920s: 7 of the 16 works on this page date from then, among them Wynne Walker, the Artist's Wife.

What are the first and last famous paintings of Eric Robertson?Show the answer

The earliest on this page is Sheba, the Night and the Moon (1913), the latest Liverpool Cathedral (1930).

Which technique did Eric Robertson favour?Show the answer

Oil On Canvas: 3 of the 16 works on this page.

Which masterpieces by Eric Robertson hang at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art?Show the answer

Cartwheels and Fleet Bay, Kirkcudbrightshire are among the 2 works on this page held by the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh.

Can I own a reproduction of a Eric Robertson masterpiece?Show the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

The life of Eric Robertson

The Soul of the Highlands: The Artistic Journey of Eric Harald Macbeth Robertson

To wander through the works of Eric Harald Macbeth Robertson is to embark on a journey through the mist-shrouged landscapes and profound emotional depths of the early twentieth century. Though his name often evokes the rugged, untamed spirit of the Scottish Highlands, Robertson was an artist of complex layers, blending architectural precision with the ethereal whispers of Symbolism. Born in 1887, his life and art were defined by a delicate tension between the tangible world of structure and the intangible realm of human emotion. While some may view him as a figure caught between eras, his ability to capture both the grandeur of historical landmarks and the intimate psychological nuances of his subjects marks him as a truly singular talent in the annals of British and Canadian art history.

The foundations of Robertson’s aesthetic were laid much earlier than his most celebrated works. Trained initially in the disciplined world of architecture, he possessed an innate understanding of scale, proportion, and the structural integrity of the environments he would later immortalize on canvas. This architectural eye provided a unique scaffolding for his more expressive impulses. As his focus shifted from the rigid lines of design to the fluid possibilities of oil painting and sculpture, he found himself deeply moved by the Pre-Raphaelite movement and the evocative power of Symbolism. He drew immense inspiration from figures such as Gustave Moreau, learning to use color and light not merely to replicate reality, but to evoke a sense of mystery and spiritual longing.

A Tapestry of Influence and Form

Robertson’s artistic evolution was significantly shaped by his connections within the vibrant art circles of Scotland and beyond. His friendship with the artist John Duncan played a pivotal role in refining his ability to weave narrative into visual imagery, allowing him to explore themes that resonated with the Romantic tradition. This period of his life was marked by an intense preoccupation with capturing the "psychological depth" of his subjects—a pursuit that saw him moving seamlessly between the monumental and the minute. Whether he was sculpting the human form or painting a sprawling cathedral, there was always an underlying search for the essence of the subject.

His technical mastery is perhaps most strikingly evident in his 1930 masterpiece, Liverpool Cathedral. In this work, Robertson transcends mere architectural documentation; through the use of bold brushstrokes and a vivid, luminous palette, he breathes life into the stone. The painting does not simply show a building; it captures an atmosphere of historical weight and spiritual majesty. This ability to imbue physical structures with a sense of living history became a hallmark of his style, as seen in other notable works such as:

Legacy and Historical Resonance

The life of Eric Harald Macbeth Robertson was one of profound artistic devotion, even as he navigated the complexities of a changing world. His work remains a bridge between the structured traditions of the nineteenth century and the more expressive, emotive movements of the twentieth. By integrating the meticulous detail of his architectural training with the dreamlike qualities of Symbolism, he created a visual language that was uniquely his own. He did not merely paint landscapes or sculpt figures; he captured the very breath of the landscapes and the pulse of the figures he depicted.

Today, Robertson’s legacy continues to resonate through collections such as the Museum of Liverpool and various Canadian institutions. His ability to navigate themes of love, despair, and grandeur ensures that his work remains relevant to contemporary viewers seeking beauty in the intersection of reality and imagination. He stands as a reminder that true art does not just reflect the world we see, but invites us to feel the unseen forces that shape it.