This pencil drawing on paper by Muirhead Bone (1876–1953) depicts a church and its surrounding village on the Isle of Harris, part of Lewis and Harris - the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. While the church features most prominently, Bone also includes several houses of varying sizes, a car, and a solitary figure standing near the church. Barrels and bushes can be seen beside the church, adding further detail to the setting. In the background, mountains rise across the horizon, anchoring the scene in its expansive, rugged landscape. Bone captures the modest architecture of the church and its surrounding buildings with precision, set against the dramatic backdrop of the island’s mountainous terrain. The drawing’s meticulous detail reflects Bone’s early training as an architectural draughtsman, revealing his continued interest as an artist in the built environment within the broader context of the natural landscape.

Sir Muirhead Bone HRSA HRSW HON RE HON ARIBA, 1876-1953

The son of a journalist, Bone was born in Glasgow and attended evening classes at Glasgow School of Art while apprenticed to an architect for three years. In 1894 he decided to become a full-time artist, working for a period as a freelance illustrator for the Scots Pictorial. His architectural training left him with a fascination with buildings, which he often depicted under construction and demolition. A consummate draughtsman, he first came to prominence as a printmaker, later becoming an etcher of international renown. However, he is remembered chiefly for his drawings in a range of media. He travelled widely, and was a distinguished was artist during both world wars.