This is one of many small works in oils, by the artist Thomas Stuart Smith (1815-1869) founder of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum through his bequest. According to his fellow artist James Orrock, Smith was ‘a man who could paint anything’ and the beauty of his brush work, and his competence in delivering a finely finished work of quality, is evident in this painting. Smith preferred to paint in Italy and the south of France, but this work of winter root vegetables was undoubtedly painted in Scotland, when he lived on his Glassingall Estate.

This work and many similar works are not framed, and have not been on show for many years. In order to draw attention to the quality of the work, Friend of the Smith Robin Campbell has sponsored a greetings card of the painting, as a seasonal gift to the Smith and the people of Stirling. Owing to the rise of web communication and the decline in the habit of sending art cards, this is the first sponsored card in many years.

In total the Smith has had over 80 sponsored cards, and many of them are still in stock. They show paintings and objects which belong to you, the people of Stirlingshire. Why not share these gifts by visiting the Smith and buying a few cards to send to friends and family?

145 years ago today, the artist Thomas Stuart Smith died in a hotel in Avignon. The death was sudden and unexpected. He had planned to be in Stirling to personally superintend the building of the Smith Institute in 1870-71, but he died of ‘apoplexy’ following a cold. He was buried in common ground, but on hearing the news, the Smith Trustees had his body disinterred, and re-buried in the main cemetery in Avignon. They also commissioned this posthumous portrait from his friend and Trustee Alfred Cox. Within five years, a site was located, the architect John Lessells of Edinburgh was engaged, and the building was opened in Dumbarton Road.

2014 has been a very significant year for the Smith. Today, there are no great benefactors of the magnanimity of Smith himself, but an organisation which has supplied vital funding this year is the Clackmannan and Stirling Environment Trust, whose contribution has helped re-furbish the theatre, provide money for lighting and for essential security. CSET was also the body whose generous grant in 2004 helped create Ailie’s Garden, the biodiversity garden at the back of the Smith which continues to give pleasure to thousands of visitors. At the turn of the year, we should always give thought and thanks to our predecessors whose gifts have made things possible, and to contemporary benefactors like CSET, whose help makes the Smith such a continuing success.