John Hamilton Mortimer and the discovery of Captain Cook
John Hamilton Mortimer (1740-1779),
Captain James Cook, Sir Joseph Banks, Lord Sandwich, Dr Daniel Solander and Dr John Hawkesworth, c. 1771, oil on canvas, nla.pic-an7351768
The National Library of Australia holds within its large collection of artworks a most intriguing eighteenth century painting, the bequest of Dame Merlyn Myer. A beautiful work in good condition, the painting is unsigned and lacks its original title. Early research into the painting revealed that it had hung unremarked in private collections for 150 years and then suffered a misattribution to Johann Zoffany which, while initially inflating its value in the art market, had obscured the painting’s true identity and significance. Rejection of the Zoffany attribution also cast doubt on the subjects Joseph Banks and Captain Cook and the date 1771
Little Ciaran holds back for New Year’s Day birth
Baby Ciaran was born shortly after the new year started (NHS Lanarkshire/PA)
A couple in South Lanarkshire welcomed 2021 along with a new arrival after their baby son was one of the first to be born in Scotland on New Year’s Day.
Ciaran Quinn was born at University Hospital Wishaw at 12.19am weighing 8lb 15oz on Friday.
Parents Lisa-Anne, 40, and Barry Quinn, 40, were expecting their baby to be born before Christmas but he decided to put in a late entrance on New Year’s Day instead.
Mother Lisa-Anne with newborn Ciaran (NHS Lanarkshire/PA)
First-footer little Isabelle makes 2021 special for ‘delighted’ parents
Baby Isabelle was born at 12.54am on New Year’s Day (NHS Lothian/PA)
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A couple in Edinburgh welcomed 2021 along with a new arrival after their baby daughter was one of the first to be born in Scotland on New Year’s Day.
Isabelle Ailsa Paton was born in Simpson’s Centre for Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at 12.54am.
Lanarkshire maternity unit welcomes Scotland s first tiny foot of the New Year A Lanarkshire maternity unit is thought to have welcomed the first New Year baby of 2021. Midwives at University Hospital Wishaw confirmed the safe arrival of baby Ciaran Quinn, born nineteen minutes after the bells. Little Ciaran was born to Lisa-Anne and Barry, and was due just before Christmas - but decided to make his grand entrance on New Year s Day. Lisa-Anne, 40, went into hospital yesterday to have her labour induced, and said: “After the year we’ve just had it’s great to have this nice news to share with everybody as 2021 begins.