Painting by Founder William McBeath Discovered

Painting by Founder William McBeath Discovered

This week, we were contacted by a relative of Jacob Ravesteyn—an acquaintance of Founder William McBeath—who shared an extraordinary discovery: a previously unknown watercolour painting by William McBeath.

What makes this even more fascinating is that William created the artwork as a personal gift for his friend Jacob Ravesteyn, and later served as a witness and signatory on Ravesteyn’s will.

William McBeath, left Scotland in the 1880s and settled in England. During this period, he began using the spelling “MacBeth” rather than his birth name McBeath—a detail that has caused confusion for researchers for decades. This newly surfaced painting helps confirm that both names refer to William.

The relative who contacted us had been researching their ancestor, Jacob Ravestein (1844–1910), who lived in Torquay. In the process, they found two intriguing references to a “W.D. MacBeth”:

• His signature as a witness on Ravesteyn’s will, listed at the address 2 Chestnut Villas, Ashley Down, Bristol.

• A family-owned watercolour signed by W.D. MacBeth.

This prompted them to reach out via Ancestry.com and ask whether this “MacBeth” could be our William McBeath. Once they learned he was a Founder of Rangers, the pieces began to fall into place.

The painting itself is a delicate watercolour of Castle Ravesteyn, located in the Netherlands. According to the relative:

“This is the painting, it's a watercolour he made for Jacob Ravesteyn in Torquay. It's a picture of a castle in the Netherlands, named Ravesteyn. MacBeth probably copied a picture or a print of the castle. Ravesteyn probably assumed or hoped there was a relation between his family name and the castle. In fact, there was no connection. But it made a nice impression, I guess.”

It’s a charming insight into the friendship between the two men. Ravesteyn, perhaps intrigued by the shared name, seems to have appreciated the gesture—even if the family connection to the castle was imagined rather than real.

Jacob’s relative added:

“At first I couldn't identify MacBeth, but then I found his name also as a witness signing the will of Ravesteyn. I'm therefore quite sure it's the same man. I will also send you images of the will.”

This confirmation not only authenticates the painting but also adds a new chapter to the life of William McBeath during his years in England.

Discoveries like this are rare. They help us understand the human stories behind the Founders—young men who built Rangers but also lived full, complex lives beyond the pitch. This painting, created by McBeath for a friend more than a century ago, is now an unexpected bridge between families, histories, and the legacy of our club.

We are grateful to the Ravesteyn family for reaching out and sharing this remarkable piece of history. It is yet another reminder that the story of Rangers continues to grow, one discovery at a time.

Gordon (The Founders Trail)