Queensberry Aisle, Durisdeer, a photo from Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Photographer's Note

Please click here for a larger version of this photograph on "beta" TE.

Until now there has been only one posting on TE from Durisdeer in Dumfries and Galloway and that was by our friend, Bev (Royaldevon), of the main road past the village.

But if Bev had turned off that main road to the tiny village of Durideer itself, she would have found treasure galore. For here there is a delightful small Georgian parish church which served the parish of Drumlanrig, covering the castle and large estates of the Dukes of Queensberry to the north west.

The church itself is pretty enough but, if you walk around to its northeast corner, you can enter a door leading to the magnificent Queensberry Aisle, a splendid mausoleum built for the First Duke of Queensberry between 1695 and 1708.

Here is the spectacular monument to James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry and 1st Duke of Dover, and Mary, his Duchess. Queensberry apparently died at his house in Albermarle Street, Piccadilly, in 1711, of an "iliack passion" (intestinal obstruction). This wonderful monument was created by the Flemish sculptor, Jan van Nost and in the foreground you can see the four supporting columns of a decorated baldachin with, in the floor directly beneath, the locked entrance to the Queensberry burial vault.

ISO 640, 1/30 sec at f/3.5, focal length 18mm.

Tue, snunney, pajaran, alvaraalto, holmertz, Royaldevon, macjake, jhm, mkamionka, adramad, COSTANTINO oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Tue (92442) 2018-02-19 5:39

Hello John,
Fantastic photo of this monument, it is of the highest quality. The sharpness and clarity are superb and I really like how you included the shaded columns in the foreground too. They provide both depth and a contrast. The sculptures and ornaments look most beautiful.
Lars

dkmurphys (79209) 2018-02-19 5:46

Hello,
Super quality of your capture. An interesting place, rich in amazing decorations. Perfect sunlight also. Well taken.

Daniel

snunney (130967) 2018-02-19 5:50

Hello John,
Spectacular is a truly appropriate description for this funeral monument and you have captured it perfectly. Ideal exposure and superb rendering of the colours and textural details even down to the inscriptions, though my Latin is a bit rusty these days. First class photography. Unfortunately, I have exhausted all my smilies for today.

BennyV (34748) 2018-02-19 6:44

Fine quality picture, John. The twisted columns are original and are used really well within the composition. The man in the wig seems to be bored, perhaps it takes forever and a day waiting for resurrection!

Benny

Silvio1953 (221695) 2018-02-19 7:15

Ciao caro John, great view of fantastic monument, splendid light, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

alvaraalto (42804) 2018-02-19 11:29

Hello John
Looking at this pompous monument for the 2nd Duke of Queensberry and his Duchess it looks like James Douglas thought he was the king of Scotland.
Spendid high quality picture and a very interesting and informative note.
Excellent presentation.
Have a nice evening, groet Rob.

carlo62 (81265) 2018-02-19 14:47

Ciao John
un monumento che meriterebbe un successo maggiore, č veramente bello e ricco di dettagli splendidi.
Ottima inquadratura ed esposizione.
Saluti
Carlo

LuisGustavoLima (5184) 2018-02-19 16:25

Oi, John!

A nitidez da foto é irretocável, realmente muito boa. A diferença de luz entre as pilastras do primeiro plano (que foram bem usadas no enquadramento) e as do fundo ficou bem interessante. Ponto de vista bem centralizado muito bem escolhido. Contraste bonito. Essa foto foi para as minhas favoritas!
Excelente trabalho!

jemaflor (147204) 2018-02-19 23:28

Hi John,
Interesting architecture, well framed with these two columns on each side of the view, perfect sharpness and exposure management, tfs.

holmertz (102760) 2018-02-20 1:23

Hello John,
I guess you are not supposed to smile in a mausoleum, but I really find the statue of the Duke rather amusing. He is depicted as resting his head against his arm like he is just taking a short break from his important duties, lying comfortably on a cushion. Unless this is a very well known place it would have been a surprise to find such an exquisite monument in a small place in the middle of nowhere. Your composition is impressive. The columns frame the view of the sculpture perfectly and create a fine sense of depth. The well managed light and fine contrasts have given the photo a strong three-dimensional quality.
Kind regards,
Gert

Royaldevon (85932) 2018-02-20 1:36

Hello John,

Thank you for the mention.
On reflection, even if we had known about this charming place, I wonder how keen Len would have been to take the motorhome up any narrow lanes, especially as he was having trouble getting reverse gear. (Glad to report, we have since had the gear box mended!)
This is a most unexpected and relaxed memorial sculpture of a quality that you would not expect to find in a small village church. The duke looks to be leisurely reclining, maybe tapping his fingers whilst he waits for something to happen. (I hope not the death of his wife!)
You have captured this interior scene with excellent clarity and framed it artistically between the two pairs of twisted pillars.
Although it is clearly a colour photograph, the accent on black and white gives pleasingly sharp contrasts.

When we come to Scotland again, we'll have to liaise about these wonderful, hidden treasures.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

macjake (98456) 2018-02-21 23:37

Hi John
those beautiful columns are almost like Caryatids, not quite, but well enough. Why don't we see more Caryatids - seriously, I don't understand why. If I were an architect i'd make sure they're included.

anyways, perhaps Bev can go back here and see what she's missed :) Interesting composition with the shade in the fg and bright illumination in the bg. the monument obviously is beautiful, quite elegant and rich looking. excellent post for TE John. cheers
Craig

jhm (211736) 2018-02-22 9:15

Hello John,

I've today something learn, only my Latin is not more so best.
You took a fantastic image, also so sharp and clear, incredible.
Also the frontage is pleasant to look at.
Splendid composition, lovely presentation and pleasant colours.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

mkamionka (74509) 2018-02-22 11:49

Hi John,
this is one on the numerous UK counties which I have yet to visit! Not that far away but it does not seem to be a tourist magnet. And so you do a fantastic job here advertising it to the world.
This place looks so elegant and I would definitely not guess its location.
Beautifully presented with perfectly balanced exposure.
I think for the first time I see columns with such extraordinary design.
Very interesting place.
It inspires to drive around and look for less popular attractions although the bad weather is so hard for me to accept, and so I often stay rather at home...

Excellent picture,
M

lousat (139308) 2018-02-22 12:02

Hi John,absolutely beautiful this monument dedicates to this Duke,what a design and what a decorations,and the pic is the most perfect of the day on TE,the quality of exposure and sharpness of the large version on betaTE is amazing,very interesting and well done! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

emka (158204) 2018-02-22 23:40

Hello John, What a gem you have found in this rarely visited village. Marvelous monument beautifully presented. So many lovely details - the duke in interesting pose, thinking about something or maybe just dozing, his lady just sleeping the eternal dream, charming angels, fantastic spiral columns. Exquisite monument.

Kind regrad s Malgo

gervaso (28177) 2018-03-14 10:21

Hello, John!

These columns create an interesting effect on the image, looking at the thumbnail I thought it was a distorted reflection of the scene! Beautiful details, captured with excellent light management and sharpness! Wonderful composition! Well done!

mesutilgim (0) 2018-09-17 11:04

Hello John,
Very nice capture from Scotland taken with very good pov and perfect light management. Perfect sharpness and many interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

adramad (73006) 2018-09-28 10:26

Hi John.
Impressive composition of this Duke's mausoleum, the sculpture of the Duke and I suppose his wife are two wonderful sculptures in a magnificent marble, with impressive details in the carving, then the salomonic columns that hold that kind of marble baldachin are fantastic.
Very effective coloring, which highlights the details of the image.
Good management, both brightness and sharpness.
Very well done. I like it.
Enjoy the weekend.
My best wishes for you.
Luis.

jmdias (115230) 2018-10-28 3:48

john

very special the light you got here, enhancing textures and shapes of art. lovely details, your image is so sharp we can enjoy the beauty of the monument. TFS.

take care

jorge

COSTANTINO (116560) 2018-11-29 23:23

Hello dear John and have a nice time
impressive and worthseeing
excellent capture and excelent sculpture
too thanks for your useful notes
welldone
regards
Costantino

Photo Information

Copyright: John Cannon (tyro) (30513)
Genre: Miejsca
Medium: Kolorowe
Date Taken: 2017-05-24
Categories: Architektura, Sztuka
Camera: Canon EOS M, Canon EF-M 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS STM, Hoya 52mm Pro1D Protector
Naświetlenie: 1/21 sekund
Map: view
Wersja zdjęcia: Oryginalna wersja
Date Submitted: 2018-02-19 5:34
Ulubione: 1 [Widok]