The Highland Propensity for Bare Feet.....

Girl with grouse in the Highlands. An original watercolour, artist unknown.

Highland Girls, one with and one without shoes. An original watercolour by P.F. Poole, RA.

Detail from a painting attributed to William Evans, titled "Near Callander." See my collection of Paintings of the NW for the full image.

An original painting, artist unknown, of a girl with her peat burden. Possibly Irish or Scottish.

A very fine pencil drawing, artist unknown.

"Economy." A caricature by W. Davison, of Alnwick.

"The Cottage Toilet." An engraving after Sir David Wilkie.

"The Country Lassie." An engraving after J.M. Wright, on the theme of a Burns poem.

"Down the Burn Davie." A Victorian music sheet by James Crawford.

"A Highland Cottage." An engraving after A. Fraser.

"Oban Messenger Boys." By W. Ralston, from a page in the Graphic Magazine, 1874.

"Le Coup de L'Etrier chez les Montagnards Ecossais." An engraving from a French magazine, 1872, extolling the generosity of the Highlanders.

A detail from a Henry Heath caricature, "Deer Sport in the Highlands" suggesting Prince Albert had a roving eye!

A fine lithograph, a character study by W. Simson titled "Highland Gillie."

A postcard of "The Order of Release", a painting at the Tate Gallery by Millais.

Two postcards, the romantic image of "A Highland Lassie."

Postcard of Sir David Wilkie's painting "The Abbotsford Family", 1817, showing Sir Walter Scott and his family dressed as peasants.

A pair of postcards, from McIan's "Gaelic Gatherings or Highlanders at Home ....." The book is full of images of unshod women and children.

A Christmas Greetings card from Blairgowrie, an invitation to a Social Afternoon in the Town Hall on December 29th....

An early 20th century postcard, Cromarty.

"Ferryden, near Montrose." A photograph, date and photographer unknown.

"Oban, 1892." A photograph showing some children without shoes.

Nairn, 1890. One child with an alarming scythe!

"Gipsies near Banavie".a photograph taken in 1911.

Two young caddies, at Prestwick(?). Early 20th century. One with, one without shoes.

Two photographs of "The Arrival of Mail, Kilchrenan 1917." From the album of Sir James Angus Gillan.

"Dodo, the Postman, Kilchrenan." Riding a bicycle with bare feet.

Detail from a photograph "Skye Crofters, 1897". Photographer unknown.

Detail from a photograph "Scotch Crofters. 3 Generations." Photographer unknown.

"Sheep Fank , N. Tolsta [Lewis]." A photo by W.J.G. A fank is both a sheep pen, and sheep shearing. The children have all gathered for this important occasion, some with and some without shoes.

An early 20th century photograph, locals from Kinlochbervie. Photographer unknown.

An original pencil sketch by the Victorian Scottish artist William Donnelly.

A detail from a postcard of Brora Harbour, sent in 1904. The children are all without shoes, though of course they are on a beach - albeit, a rather stony one.

"Group of St Kilda Women." One of a famous series of St Kilda photographs by G.W. Wilson. All the ladies are barefooted.

Potato Lifting. A fine etching by William Strang, c.1882. Strang, a Scottish artist, was based in London from 1875, but the bare feet of these girls suggests a Highland scene to me.

A girl, spotted at the Bridge of Allan by C.J. Newcombe. An original watercolour painting. c.1870

Another at the Bridge of Allan, by C.J. Newcombe.