Farquharson's notoriety is built on his depictions of light mirrored off snow or storm like scenarios in winter landscapes. He is descended from an old Aberdeenshire family, and many of his hyper realistic landscapes were inspired by his picturesque woodland estate of Finzean in the Dee Valley.

Joseph Farquharson RA, 1846-1935

Born in Edinburgh, where his father was a doctor and amateur artist, Farquharson received his first instruction from the landscape painter and family friend Peter Graham. He then trained at the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh and later spent several winters in the Paris atelier of Émile Carolus-Duran, the friend of Manet and teacher of John Singer Sargent; Farquharson formed a close friendship with the latter. Both Graham and Farquharson went on to pursue lucrative careers as London-based painters of Highland landscape.