Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Verso, an old, probably Victorian, copperplate inscription incorrectly identifies the sitter as James Stuart, The Old Pretender.
WILLIAM AIKMAN (1682-1731) was a Scottish portrait painter, only son of the Laird of Cairney, Forfar where he was born. He developed a passion for painting and studied under Medina, sold the family estate and went to Rome in 1707 for three years.
He settled in Edinburgh in 1712 and was an excellent taker of likenesses, the best Edinburgh portraitist of his time, painting most of the nobility, gentry and lawyers.
In 1723, encouraged by the Duke of Argyll, he moved to London where he was not only patronised by Scots, but became well known in literary circles and the friend of Pope, Gray, Thomson and others. He is buried in Grey Friars Church, Edinburgh.
This painting is a good example of Aikman's accomplished mature style when he was emulating Sir Godfrey Kneller, Principal Painter to the King, in the hope of succeeding him.
SIZE: 37.5 x 32.5 inches framed.
PROVENANCE: An old Private Collection, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
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Portrait of a Gentleman C.1720; Attributed to William Aikman.
