Portrait Katharine, 8th Duchess of Atholl

Katharine - or Kitty - is painted seated at a piano.

She excelled in music and composition and in 1892, entered the Royal College of Music. Kitty was a brilliant success, not only as a composer but as a performer too; a musical career beckoned. However, in 1896 she visited Blair Castle and stole the heart of Bardie - the 8th Duke of Atholl.

A petite powerhouse of a woman, she became involved in local issues such as healthcare and education in the Highlands of Scotland, which in turn led to her becoming Scotland’s first woman Member of Parliament. This portrait is painted by Sir James Guthrie, one of the leading painters in the group of artists called 'The Glasgow Boys.' Guthrie established a reputation as a successful portrait painter. He became president of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1902 and was knighted the following year.