View of gravestone. Digital image of B 4311/3

Description View of gravestone. Digital image of B 4311/3

Date 1991

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

Catalogue Number SC 801016

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 4311/3

Scope and Content Gravestone commemorating William Baillie, Wiston Parish Church, Millrig Road, Wiston, South Lanarkshire Here, the upper part of the stone is occupied by a winged, and seemingly periwigged, figure representing the soul of William Baillie ascending to Heaven after his death. Beneath, the scene portrays the story of Abraham and Isaac as told in Genesis 22:1-19. Abraham is about to offer his son Isaac, lying on the pyre, as a sacrifice to God. Here the winged soul above could also represent the angel which commands Abraham not to kill Isaac. To the left is the ram caught in the thicket which they offer up as a sacrifice instead. Abraham and Isaac appear on about a dozen memorials across Scotland. Although the scene is a metaphor for sacrifice and obedience to the Word of God, it also offers the hope of a glorious reward. Such messages could offer some solace to the bereaved. This gravestone commemorates William Baillie, a tenant farmer, who died in 1735 aged 40. His son George Ballie, who died in 1750 aged 20 is also buried here. The inscription reads: 'HERE LYES WILLAIM BAILLIE IN/HALL IN ROBERTOUN WHO DIED/IN NOVEMBER 3RD DAY OF 1735/HE WAS OF AGE 40 YEARS/ALSO HERE LYES THE CORPS OF/GEORGE BAILLIE HIS SON WHO/DIED MAY 3 1750 AGE 20'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/801016

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap