The old church of Kinnoull stood on the east side of the Tay opposite
Perth. It may be said to have entirely disappeared with the exception of
an aisle which was attached to the church, and now contains a
seventeenth century monument to the Earl of Kinnoull (Fig. 1558). The
monument is of a pompous kind, and inspires none of those feelings of
reverence begotten by the monuments of the Middle Ages. It occupies the
full width and height of the aisle, and has a high dado richly
sculptured on the pedestals and sides with arms and insignia of power,
and contains an ornate central panel. From the dado there rise three
columns resting on pedestals. The columns themselves are twisted and
carved. The capitals, which are in imitation of Corinthian, are very
debased. The two end columns are backed by projecting pilasters at the
wall. Above the columns there runs a carved entablature with cornice,
supporting, by way of finish, a heraldic slab in the centre, with
various separate figures on each side of it.
The principal feature of the monument, to which all the above are
accessories, is the life-sized statue of George, first Earl of Kinnoull
and Chancellor of Scotland. His history will be found in Crawford’s
_Lives of the Officers of State_. The monument was erected in 1635.
[Illustration: FIG. 1558.--Monument in Kinnoull Church.]