UK NEWS

SCOT WHO DEFIED CURSE OF KING TUT'S TOMB IS HONOURED AT LAST

Wednesday April 9,2008

By Rod Mills

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AS a seasoned war reporter, combat artist Douglas Macpherson braved enemy fire, injury and even death as he captured battlefield images on canvas.

But he faced a different kind of danger when he became the only artist to depict the opening of the Tomb of Tutankhamen in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922.

The little-known Scot survived the legendary Curse of Tutankhamen, and produced this stunning watercolour image of the breaking of the seals.

When the tomb was opened, Howard Carter and Lord Caernarvon basked in the international fame, in what became one of the first global news events.

But now 85 years later, Macpherson’s little known part in the world-famous expedition is to be commemorated.

The Clan Macpherson Museum in the Highland village of Newtonmore is hosting a new exhibition featuring images of the original paintings, which were destroyed during World War Two. Museum spokesman Ewen Mac-Pherson said: “When Lord Caernarvon and Howard Carter’s team went to Luxor and excavated the tomb of King Tutankhamen, Douglas was the only artist sent to make watercolour drawings at the opening of the tomb and the sarcophagus.

“Copies of his work form part of this exhibition. Unfortunately, the original paintings stored in the archives of The Sphere in London were destroyed during the Blitz.

“We are delighted his only surviving daughter, Sheila Naylor, will be coming to officially open the exhibition next month.”

Douglas, from Laggan, Newtown-more, trained as an artist before joining the Daily Graphic newspaper. In 1898 he covered Cuba’s war with Spain, then went to St Petersburg in Russia in 1904, to cover political unrest.

When King Carlos I of Portugal and Crown Prince Luiz Phillipe were assassinated in Lisbon in 1908, Macpherson was despatched to cover the story.

In 1915 he was commissioned into the RNVR (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) as a war reporter and combat artist. He was discharged in 1916 and returned to the Daily Graphic.

In 1919 he joined The Sphere magazine and later the Illustrated London News.

Three years later he produced his stunning watercolours at Luxor.

Following the excitement of the Tutankhamen discoveries, his next big project was the first Everest expedition. In 1924 he was commissioned to paint in black and white aerial views of the route of ascent from photographs.

He and his wife Hilda had three daughters, Audrey, Barbara and Sheila, who now lives in Monmouth, South Wales.

He died on October 4, 1952 aged 55, 30 years after defying the curse of the tomb.