Madge and Bauldy, from a 1788 edition of 'The Gentle Shepherd', by Allan Ramsey. [Library shelfmark: H.S.231]
In 1788, David Allan, the painter and Master of the Edinburgh Academy of Art, produced an illustrated edition of 'The Gentle Shepherd'. It surpassed all other editions of Ramsay's work.
The 1788 edition was a collectible prestige object containing striking colour aquatints.
Memorable scenes from the poem that are captured in the plates include a colourful quarrel between two main characters, Madge and Bauldy, shown here.