Detail of square gravestone for Grant children 1756 showing mother and child

Description Detail of square gravestone for Grant children 1756 showing mother and child

Date 1988

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number B 4085/20

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 800648

Scope and Content Gravestone of Clementina and Ann Grant, and their mother, St Kessog's Church and Churchyard, Luss, Argyll & Bute This stone, with its confusing inscription, seems to commemorate the children and, presumably the wife of James Grant, a servant to James Grant of Grant and his wife Majerie Golde. On the west face are carved the strangely proportioned figures of a mother and child. The mother's left arm curves protectively around her child, who seems to hover in mid-air beside her. Both figures have large heads, which have lost their features. The bodice of the 'mother' shows the distinctive cone-shape created by the 'stays' (corsets) of the period. This simple figure, with its resemblance to depictions of the Madonna and Child, powerfully expresses the love of the deceased woman for her children. It seems strange that her name is not recorded on the stone. This gravestone commemorates Clementina and Ann Grant, who died in 1730, and 'the mother of the said children', who died in 1756. It is inscribed: 'HERE LYES THE CORPS OF/CLEMENTINA AND ANN/..../GRANTS CHILDREN TO JAMES/GRANT SERVANT TO THE RIGHT/Honourable James Grant of/Grant and Marjerie Golde.../His spouse WHO DIED 1730/AS ALSO THE MOTHER OF THE/SAID CHILDREN WHO DIED JULY 1756 AGED 66'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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