Millais was drawn to the river Tay not only to paint but, like so many others, came to fish. Here the artist becomes model, the epitome of the Victorian sporting gentleman. The artist is posed on a Tay coble rowing boat, a favourite of anglers on the river for centuries. Beside him is the ghillie who helped him land the salmon and trout displayed for us to admire on the river bank.
The photograph was taken by his friend Rupert Potter in 1881 on the river near Dalguise. Potter and his family, including his daughter Beatrix, spent many summers holidaying on the Tay around Dunkeld. Beatrix was a keen artist and photographer too. Sometimes Millais would ask Beatrix to photograph the scene he was painting as an aide memoire for him when he worked it up later in his studio.
Robin A Crawford 