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Painting - The 'Rob Roy' frieze in the Dining Room of Villa Alba painted by Hugh Paterson, 1883-1884

  • Francis Osbaldistone meets his cousin Diana at the end of the hunt

    Francis Osbaldistone meets his cousin Diana at the end of the hunt

  • Francis meets his Catholic Jacobite Uncle Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone accompanied by his niece Diana Vernon

    Francis meets his Catholic Jacobite Uncle Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone accompanied by his niece Diana Vernon

  • The duel between Francis and his cousin Rashleigh is interrupted by Rob Roy

    The duel between Francis and his cousin Rashleigh is interrupted by Rob Roy

  • Bailie Nicol Jarvie, warning Captain Thornton that Dougal was leading them into a trap

    Bailie Nicol Jarvie, warning Captain Thornton that Dougal was leading them into a trap

  • Helen Campbell (Rob Roy's wife), formidably perched on the summit of a rock, challenges Captain Thornton and his men

    Helen Campbell (Rob Roy's wife), formidably perched on the summit of a rock, challenges Captain Thornton and his men

  • Helen Campbell has the traitor Morris hurled off a cliff into Loch Lomond

    Helen Campbell has the traitor Morris hurled off a cliff into Loch Lomond

  • Composite scene of the release of Diana Vervon and her uncle by Rob Roy and their later escape by boat to France from the western coast of Scotland

    Composite scene of the release of Diana Vervon and her uncle by Rob Roy and their later escape by boat to France from the western coast of Scotland

  • Departure of Francis and the Bailie as Rob Roy sees them off

    Departure of Francis and the Bailie as Rob Roy sees them off

  • The sublime and picturesque scene of the boat sailing across Loch Lomond

    The sublime and picturesque scene of the boat sailing across Loch Lomond

  • Landscape filler panel above the bay window

    Landscape filler panel above the bay window

  • Francis Osbaldistone meets his cousin Diana at the end of the hunt
  • Francis meets his Catholic Jacobite Uncle Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone accompanied by his niece Diana Vernon
  • The duel between Francis and his cousin Rashleigh is interrupted by Rob Roy
  • Bailie Nicol Jarvie, warning Captain Thornton that Dougal was leading them into a trap
  • Helen Campbell (Rob Roy's wife), formidably perched on the summit of a rock, challenges Captain Thornton and his men
  • Helen Campbell has the traitor Morris hurled off a cliff into Loch Lomond
  • Composite scene of the release of Diana Vervon and her uncle by Rob Roy and their later escape by boat to France from the western coast of Scotland
  • Departure of Francis and the Bailie as Rob Roy sees them off
  • The sublime and picturesque scene of the boat sailing across Loch Lomond
  • Landscape filler panel above the bay window

Historical information

The internal decorative scheme of Villa Alba is significant as a fine example of the work of the leading Melbourne decorators, the Paterson Brothers. It is one of their first interiors to depart totally from the use of pre-prepared wallpapers of repetitive designs and it is a rare and comprehensive extant example of their domestic work. The decorative schemes in the ground floor hall, the dining room, the drawing, the vestibule, the stair hall, the upper hall, bedroom 1 and the boudoir are also individually of significance as outstanding examples of Victorian decoration. The frieze in the Dining Room of Villa Alba was painted by Hugh Paterson in 1883-1884, and depicts scenes from Walter Scott's novels 'Rob Roy' and 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian.'

Significance

High quality photographic record of the Rob Roy section of the frieze with annotations by Robyn Riddett and Andrew Dixon. Photographs were taken by Trevor Mein.

Physical description

Panels 1 to 10 of scenes from Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Rob Roy'. Positioned below the architrave, each panel or lunette is separated by tromp loeil columns. The Rob Roy section of the frieze begins on the north wall, continues above the fireplace on the west wall, and concludes above the bay window on the south wall. [The panels on the east wall depict scenes from Scott's 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian.]

Inscriptions & markings

[The captions on each image were created by Robyn Riddett and Andrew Dixon using the text of each novel as a reference]

Subjects

References

Other parts of this item

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