Watercolour on paper, 1934
James Miller (1860-1947)
RCAHMS: RIAS Collection
The Scottish architect James Miller left a lasting legacy upon the urban landscape of Glasgow, designing a wide range of public buildings, work places and private houses. It was his winning competition entries for the industrial pavilion at the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901 and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary that cemented Miller’s reputation.
Later in his career, Miller was swayed by architectural influences from across the Atlantic, creating several massive, steel-framed buildings. The Commercial Bank provides an excellent example of this American Neo-Classical style. This drawing displays the monumental qualities of the building’s entrance, with its imposing bronze doors flanked by a pair of Corinthian columns.
The exterior is embellished with a decorative frieze, entitled ‘The Qualities of Man in Modern Society’, with classical Greek figures enacting scenes of Commerce, Contentment, Industry, Justice, Prudence and Wisdom.
The building later became the Royal Bank of Scotland, and is currently the site of an entertainment venue.