JAMES SKENE OF RUBISLAW (BRITISH 1775-1864) Fortress of Neustadt opposite Peterwardin on the Danube Signed inscribed and dated Fortress of Neustadt opposite Peterwardin / on the Danube 26 May 1845 J. Skene (lower right) Watercolour over pencil 24.5 x 45.5cm (9 3/4 x 18in) According to Sir Walter Scott, some of whose works the artist illustrated, James Skene [was] "for a gentleman, the best draughtsman I ever saw." Skene House, the family home, is a few miles to the east of Aberdeen near Loch of Skene. The artist was educated in Edinburgh and Germany and subsequently lived and worked in Greece for many years, also visiting the Balkans and other parts of Europe before finally returning to England where he eventually resided at Oxford. He is represented in the British Museum, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Edinburgh Central Library.  In 1845 Neustadt was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had both German and Hungarian names.