John Weeks spent two years in Edinburgh (1923-25). He was enrolled at the Royal Academy School of Painting and for much of his time he would travel by train to various locations where he would sketch on the spot. As told to Ron Stenberg by staff at the Academy, Weeks would set off on each outing with a piece of cheese in one pocket and bread in the other for his lunch!

This oil may have been done during these years or could be a later recollection but whatever the case it certainly shows his interest in composition and colour both of which he shared with John Peploe, one of the Scottish colourists.

The depiction of the snow recalls the Impressionists with their interest in white and the many colours it contains, as Weeks so clearly shows, while the patches of colour give the painting a Post-Impressionist feel. Weeks takes up the local colours of the surrounding architectural structures, the blues, browns and fawns, and uses these in lighter tones in the white snow on the road and roofs.

Weeks recreates the cold of the winter's day but the warm suggestive colour of red on the chimneys and in some of the windows make the painting warm and inviting to the viewer.

ANGELA MACKIE