page_title: Richard Waitt
hierarchical_section_title: Richard Waitt
caption_attribution_description: This grinning man holds a kail stock with a burning candle stuck in the top. This helps identify him as the fool or jester of a Scottish laird, who probably presided over Halloween festivities, such as those described in Robert Burns' poetry. Traditionally, unmarried men and women pulled up kail stocks to confirm the character of their future partner. A candle was then stuck into the end to make a torch. This portrait, painted in 1731, was possibly part of a series depicting Scottish clan members.
context_page_description: Richard Waitt was a Scottish painter.
  Waitt was taught by John Scougal, and started out as a decorative painter focusing mainly on still lifes. However, later he painted primarily portraits, and for many years worked almost exclusively with the Clan Grant. He was active from c.1708 and died in 1732.
context_section_description: Richard Waitt (died 1732) was a Scottish painter.
  Waitt was taught by John Scougal, and started out as a decorative painter focusing mainly on still lifes. However, later he painted primarily portraits, and for many years worked almost exclusively with the Clan Grant. He was active from c.1708 and died in 1732.
caption: The Cromartie Fool by Richard Waitt, National Galleries of Scotland, 1731
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