Alexander Nasmyth

>Alexander Nasmyth 2004-12-15T16:28:01Z Rmhermen dab Allan Ramsay '''Alexander Nasmyth''' ([[9 September]] [[1758]] - [[10 April]] [[1840]]) was a [[Scot]]tish [[portrait]] and [[landscape]] [[painter]], often called the ?father of Scottish landscape painting". <div style="float:left;width:232px;margin:0 1em 1em 0;font-style:italic;text-align:center;">[[Image:edinpain.JPG|Edinburgh castle painting]]<br> <small>Detail of ''Edinburgh Castle and Nor'Loch'' painted around 1780</small></div> Born in [[Edinburgh]], he studied at the [[Trustees? Academy]] under [[Runciman]], and, having been apprenticed as an heraldic painter to a coachbuilder, he, at the age of sixteen, attracted the attention of [[Allan Ramsay (1713-1784)|Allan Ramsay]], who took the youth with him to [[London]], and employed him upon the subordinate portions of his works. Nasmyth returned to Edinburgh in [[1778]], and was soon largely patronized as a portrait painter. He also assisted [[Mr Miller]] of [[Dalswinton]], as draughtsman, in his mechanical researches and experiments; and, this gentleman having generously offered the painter a loan to enable him to pursue his studies abroad, he left in [[1782]] for [[Italy]], where he remained two years. <div style="float:right;width:140px;margin:0 0 1em 1em;font-style:italic;text-align:center;">[[Image:robert_burns.JPG|Alt text]]<br> <small>''Detail of ''Robert Burns'', 1787''</small></div> On his return he painted the excellent portrait of [[Robert Burns]], now in the [[Scottish National Gallery]], well known through [[Walker]]?s engraving. Political feeling at that time ran high in Edinburgh, and Nasmyth?s pronounced [[Liberal]] opinions, which he was too outspoken and sincere to disguise, gave offence to many of his aristocratic patrons, and led to the diminution of his practice as a portraitist. In his later years, accordingly, he devoted himself mainly to landscape work, and did not disdain on occasion to set his hand to scene-painting for the theatres. He has been styled, not unjustly, the ?father of Scottish landscape art.? His subjects are carefully finished and coloured, but are wanting in boldness and freedom. Nasmyth was also largely employed by noblemen throughout the country in the improving and beautifying of their estates, in which his fine taste rendered him especially skilful; and he was known as an [[architect]], having designed the [[Dean Bridge]], Edinburgh, and the graceful circular temple covering [[St Bernard?s Well]]. Nasmyth died in his native city. His youngest son, [[James Nasmyth]], was the well-known inventor of the [[steam hammer]]. Alexander's six daughters all attained a certain local reputation as artists, but it was in his eldest son, [[Patrick Nasmyth]], that the artistic skill of his family was most powerfully developed. ''(to separate article)'' Having studied under his father, Patrick went to London at the age of twenty, and soon attracted attention as a clever landscapist. He was a diligent student of the works of [[Claude]] and [[Richard Wilson (painter)|Richard Wilson]], and of [[Ruysdael]] and [[Hobbema]], upon whom his own practice was mainly founded. His most characteristic paintings are of English domestic scenery, full of quiet tone and colour, and detailed and minute expression of foliage, and with considerable brilliancy of sky effect. They were executed with his left hand, his right having in early life been injured by an accident. ==Reference== * For an account of the Nasmyth family see James Nasmyth?s ''Autobiography'' ([[1883]]) [http://www.bootlegbooks.com/NonFiction/Nasmyth/Autobiography/Default.htm online version] ==External link== * [http://www.natgalscot.ac.uk/ National Galleries of Scotland], which have many of Nasmyth's works on display. {{1911}} [[Category:1758 births|Nasmyth, Alexander]] [[Category:1840 deaths|Nasmyth, Alexander]]