A picture of James Haldane

In the preface to a biography on the Scottish Baptist Brothers, Robert and James Haldane it says this:

"Much regret has been expressed that the volume contains no print of Robert Haldane but it was mentioned in the first edition that there is not a portrait from which one could be made He would never sit for his picture... 
... James Haldane during the period of his greatest popularity resisted all overtures made to him both in London and Edinburgh to allow his picture to be taken but after his brother's death he yielded to the importunity of his family but not till he was approaching the great age of fourscore"

A portrait of James Haldane: not quite the first 'selfie'

I'm slowly reading up on these brothers as they are quite a surprising inspiration to me for a number of reasons. I may summarise my findings in the future but first of all I just wanted to share how sobering I found this little passage in the preface.

The fact is: One brother (James) has a portrait and the other (Robert) does not. For James, his face lives on and we can attach to it the personality we discover through reading his works and the biographies of his life. But Robert's face is a blank. He is a ghost; a personality without shape or form. And although, he was given opportunity to let his face be recorded. he continually refused. No matter how much we learn about his particular actions, thoughts and interests we will never know what he looked like.

Let that be a lesson to us all! Whilst this digital era seems to be ruled by self-image and we grow exhausted under the weight of too many over-glamorised 'selfies'. At least the future generations will know what their heroes looked like. (even if their heroes are Paris Hilton and Beyonce)