A rare oil painting by the late Scottish artist Alexander Goudie, titled 'The First Drink' and depicting a scene from Robert Burns's poem 'Tam o' Shanter', is set to be auctioned by McTear's in Glasgow. The painting, created in the late 1990s, is estimated to fetch between £10,000 and £20,000 at the Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on February 26th.
The sale highlights the enduring market for works connected to Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, and the cultural significance of Goudie's visual interpretations of his epic poem. Goudie's series of 54 'Tam o' Shanter' paintings is considered the definitive visual representation of the work, preserved for public viewing with support from charitable foundations. The auction presents a rare opportunity to acquire a key piece from this celebrated series, attracting interest from collectors globally.