Zizzi - Advocates Close Sketches

I've pursued various different strands for this project: Edinburgh as birthplace of Encyclopaedia Britannica/ Scottish enlightenment; John Scougal - Royal Portraitist; 'Gardyloo'/ Story of  High Court Judge Lord Coalstoun.

Adopted an 18th century engraving style for this but I would probably render only one wall in this kind of detail and stylise and simplify the other two. Imagine as white on black.

Britannica (Waiting Area wall?) - Imagery taken from plates of the first edition and combined and EB official crest.  Hangman game combines themes of lettering/printing and the law.  Playful and dark, like many of Royal Mile histories...

As above but imagery from plates eminate from around 'ghost' of High Street former Mercat Cross (marked in reality by a cobbled octogon in vacinity of Advocates Close). The King's chemist, Mr Amyat remarked while standing at the Cross of Edinburgh he could take ' 50 men of genius' by the hand in a few minutes.  

John Scougall 17th century portraitist who resided in Advocates Close (Restaurant Wall?)  These partially completed black and white versions of his works leave only wigs, hair finery, sillhouettes etc... 

Lord Coalstoun ( Art Wall on route to Toilets). The adjecsent Close (Byre's Close) housed many Advocates in th 18th century - in the narrow streets they would lean out their windows in the morning to discuss the days affairs.  Purportedly, Judge Lord Coalstoun did this while two girls living above were dangling a kitten on a string out the window. The kitten made direct contact with Judge and his ceremonial wig was hoisted aloft. ...
'Gardyloo!' - The cry used in Edinburgh, an adaptation from French  meaning 'Watch out for the water' used when tennents poured the days waste from their windows into the streets.

 

Thought Kittens with wigs on strings made a nice, surreal motif of its own. Considered this as repeat pattern or sillhouetted for elegance.