“Strang was a short, ruddy, broad shouldered, thickset Lowlander with a strong Scottish accent and a forehead like a bull, above which, the hair grew stiff and strong like a southern Frenchman’s. He was a staunch admirer of Legros: this was evident in his drawings and etchings. He had much of Legros’ remarkable power of design; his drawing was solid and energetic, and he showed a grim and lusty inventiveness in the composition of his subjects. He was an admirably equipped artist, and, at a time when the Glasgow School was becoming fashionable, he was for long under-estimated. In spite of a real curiosity for life, and a fertile imagination, an element of pastiche sometimes crept into his work, an infection caught perhaps from Legros.  He was an ardent experimenter in many materials and methods – what he admired he at once attempted to do himself… He had just completed a set of etchings for The Pilgrim’s Progress and complained that no publisher would take them; they all wanted prettier things. He said he never used models for his subject etchings.”

William Rothenstein, Men and Memories, 1931/2 Volume 1 p34. Rothenstein studied at the Slade (1886-1893) under Legros who gave him an introduction to Strang, his most accomplished ex-student.

Many thanks to Michael T. Ricker who has made his collection available.