A Jacobite Gazetteer - Scotland

The Blairs Museum is located on the southwest side of the city of Aberdeen. It describes itself as "the museum of Scotland's Catholic heritage". The museum occupies some of the rooms of the former St. Mary's College (commonly called Blairs College). The collection includes a number of portraits of members of the Royal Family as well as smaller items associated with them.

View of the Stuart portraits

There is a portrait of King James III and VIII. It is a 1723 copy by Antonio David of the 1721 portrait by Girolamo Pesci now at Stanford Hall. James is shown standing three-quarter length. He wears armour with the blue sash of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with an attached Lesser George decorated with diamonds and rubies. Around his neck is the insignia of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. There is a map of the British Isles in his left hand and a marshall's baton in his right hand. At his right side is an unidentified page holding a royal helmet decorated with crosses, fleurs-de-lis, and pearls. In the background are several ships with British flags before the white cliffs of Dover.

King James III and VIII, by Antonio David

There is a portrait of King James' wife, Queen Maria Clementina. It is a copy of the 1725 portrait by Martin Van Meytens. Maria Clementina wears an ermine cape attached with a blue sash (reminiscent of the sash of the Most Noble Order of the Garter).

Queen Maria Clementina

There are three portraits of King Charles III, two when he was Prince of Wales. The first of these is a somewhat naive copy of the 1729 portrait by Antonio David now in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Charles wears a red jacket, the sash and star of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the insignia of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (partially hidden under the Garter sash).

Charles, Prince of Wales, after Antonio David

The second portrait of Charles shows him in Scottish tartan jacket and a black bonnet with a white cockade.

Charles, Prince Regent

The third portrait of Charles shows him in later life. It is a copy of the head from the 1770 portrait by Laurent Pécheux now at Stanford Hall. Charles is wearing armour and the insignia of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

King Charles III, after Laurent Pécheux

There is a portrait of King Henry IX when Duke of York. It is a copy of one of the portraits in the Scots College in Rome.

Henry, Cardinal Duke of York

The museum collection also includes a number of small artefacts:

* a gilt commemorative medal of King James III and VIII when Prince of Wales struck in 1697 by Norbert Roettier

* a miniature portrait of King James III and VIII; he is dressed in armour and wears the sash of the Order of the Garter

* a silver snuff box traditionally given by King Charles III when Prince Regent to Angus Macdonald of Borrodale

* a gold ring with a lock of Charles' hair

* a miniature portrait of Charles painted on ivory and signed Dupré

* an enamelled gold watch owned by Charles and with a portrait of his daughter, Charlotte, Duchess of Albany

* a commemorative medal of King Henry IX struck in 1788 by either Gioacchino or Giovanni Hamerani

The museum also includes a number of portraits of and items connected with Queen Mary I.

View of portraits and artefacts of Queen Mary I