John Anderson My Jo

On my travels in York again. I grabbed this earlier today. I promised myself that I wouldn't have to cart a painting home on the train this time. But...

The crackle in the paint suggests some age. I thought someone had been kind enough to name the artist on the back but apparently its the name of the painting. The artist has captured the form of the people and faces very well.

 

Maybe both? "My Joe" by John Anderson?

 

There's a John Anderson on MutualArt to which I don't have a membership. Appears to be working in the same genre. Not to be confused, I'd think, with the listed artist John Anderson. A very different skill level. And yours may even be a copy.

Debora

 

Bonhams has the following listed as "John Anderson My Jo"



Attributed to William Kidd
(British, 1790-1863)

John Anderson My Jo!

Scottish Art
15 May 2024, 14:00 BST

Edinburgh
£800 - £1,200

 

Thank you. I thought John Anderson My Jo was the name of the painting, which I thought was an odd title. Copies of it seem to be ubiquitous.

 

Isn't it 'My Joy'?

 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/john-callcott-horsley-darby-and-joan-oil-on-canvas/

John Callcott Horsley "Darby and Joan"

 

Whoever wrote it made a bit of a mess of the last letter.

It does have a Darby and Joan look.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darby_and_Joan

 

Ah, it should indeed be jo...
Also on the bonhams page:
The painting movingly captures the poem's theme in presenting a delicate reflection of a lady looking upon her husband and reminiscing about their life shared and how they have aged.

Although this poem has had a number of adaptations since its creation, Burns's original two verses read:

John Anderson my jo, John,
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snaw,
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson my jo!

John Anderson my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither,
And monie a cantie day, John,
We've had wi' ane anither;
Now we maun totter down, John,
And hand in hand we'll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson my jo!

 

There is a poem by Robert Burns of the same name. It just gets more confusing. I think they wrote my Joy on the frame in error and then crossed out the y perhaps?

 

And there ye go. Thanks. We would like you to recite it and upload the video please. It has to be under 1Mb though.

 

They probably started to write "Joe" and someone scratched out the last letter to correct it.

In Scottish jo is a term of endearment meaning a sweetheart, darling, or beloved one.

 

I never knew that. Best not get your Jos or Jimmys mixed up eh?