Thomas Duncan - Mary's husband
Thomas Duncan was a fine artist who according to biographies would have been the foremost portrait painter of his day if he had lived. There are many examples of his work online. 1845 Thomas died of a brain tumour on 25 Apr. Buried at Warriston New Cemetery. (see report on funeral)
Illustrated London News – Sat. 17th May 1845. Thomas Duncan RSA and ARA
Mr. Duncan was a native of Perthshire. When twenty years of age, and not till then, he commenced the elementary studies of the art of painting; he, however, quickly made up for lost time: his advances towards excellence were surprising. His works, many of them well known to the public both in England and Scotland, give unequivocal proof of his genius. There are his Sir John Falstaff," his Sweet Anne Page and who has not seen and admired, either in the painting itself, or the engraving, his "Entrance of Prince Charles Stuart into Edinburgh?" One of his last works, "The Cave Scene of Prince Charles in Glen Morison," is now being engraved by Ryall. The productions of Mr. Duncan bore the stamp of a mind endowed with pictorial powers of the highest order. There appeared in them natural arrangement of groups in composition, a correctness of drawing, a truth of expression, a fine distribution of the masses in chiaroscuro, together with an exquisitely sweet and masterly finish in working out the details, and a fine eye for harmony in colouring. Mr. Duncan was an industrious, sober, and frugal man, as well as an able artist, and he had just begun to receive the rewards of his talents and assiduity. He had lately had an order from the Marquis of Breadalbane for a picture, for which he was to be paid £lOOO. In the midst of these prospects, in his 39th year, and in the possession of an apparently powerful constitution, he was attacked by a physical calamity, which in a few months was to end in his death. An internal tumour, first fixing its action near the optic nerves, finally invaded his brain, and the sufferer gradually sunk, in defiance of all the efforts that his talented medical friends could devise to save his valuable life. What adds to the bitterness of this affliction is, that he has left a widow and six helpless orphans wholly unprovided for. We trust, however, that this country, and especially all admirers of painting and genius there, will come at once to their assistance.
Rosetta" St Michael's Road, Worthing1904 "Rosetta" was sold in July and Mary moved in with her son Charles and family at "Seaforth"