Alongside Thomas Hudson, Allan Ramsey was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 18th century in Great Britain. The eldest son of a famous Scottish poet and book antiquarian, Ramsey was named after his father. Ramsey completed his school education in his home town of Edinburgh. Art was also one of his subjects there, but did not go beyond the simple basics. Therefore Ramsey moved to London at the age of 20 to study with the Swedish portraitist Hans Hysing. After about 2 years Ramsey left Hysing and travelled on to Italy to continue his studies. Between 1736 and 1738 Ramsay lived in Naples and Rome. There he was taught by Francesco Solimena and Francesco Fernandi, also known as Imperiali. Both artists were to have a decisive influence on Ramsey's later work.
After almost 3 years Ramsey returned to Edinburgh. His first portraits of the politician Duncan Forbes of Culloden and the Duke of Argyll, which later appeared on bank notes of the Royal Bank of Scotland, made Ramsey famous. But it was not only his artistic talent, but also his cultivated manner and good manners that made him especially popular among the English upper class. So Ramsey was soon employed by the Duke of Bridgewater in London. In the same year he married his first wife, Anne Bayne. She died in 1743, only 4 years after the marriage, during the birth of her third child. Their children died later, all at a young age. Ramsey remained unmarried for several years and continued to work in London until he fell in love with one of his students. Margaret Lindsay came from a distinguished Scottish noble family, so her father was not very fond of the relationship with an artist. The couple ran away together in 1752 and married secretly. They had 3 children together and were obviously very happy with each other.
Together with his wife, Ramsey went to Italy again. They traveled for three years through Rome, Florence, Naples and Tivoli. There they studied the old masters, visited archaeological sites and painted. Ramsey financed the trip by painting portraits of well-off European tourists. Finally they returned to England, where Ramsey was appointed as the principal painter of King George III in 1761, succeeding John Shackelton. He outdid his main competitor Thomas Hudson, who was also being considered for the post. The king commissioned so many portraits that Ramsey had to hire several assistants, including David Martin and Philip Reinagle. From about 1770 Ramsey became tired of painting and began to take a greater interest in literature. An unfortunate injury to his right arm and the death of his wife in 1782 also played their part. Ramsey completed a last portrait of the king and left England shortly afterwards to travel back to Italy. He left about 50 incomplete portraits, which had to be completed by Reinagle.
Alongside Thomas Hudson, Allan Ramsey was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 18th century in Great Britain. The eldest son of a famous Scottish poet and book antiquarian, Ramsey was named after his father. Ramsey completed his school education in his home town of Edinburgh. Art was also one of his subjects there, but did not go beyond the simple basics. Therefore Ramsey moved to London at the age of 20 to study with the Swedish portraitist Hans Hysing. After about 2 years Ramsey left Hysing and travelled on to Italy to continue his studies. Between 1736 and 1738 Ramsay lived in Naples and Rome. There he was taught by Francesco Solimena and Francesco Fernandi, also known as Imperiali. Both artists were to have a decisive influence on Ramsey's later work.
After almost 3 years Ramsey returned to Edinburgh. His first portraits of the politician Duncan Forbes of Culloden and the Duke of Argyll, which later appeared on bank notes of the Royal Bank of Scotland, made Ramsey famous. But it was not only his artistic talent, but also his cultivated manner and good manners that made him especially popular among the English upper class. So Ramsey was soon employed by the Duke of Bridgewater in London. In the same year he married his first wife, Anne Bayne. She died in 1743, only 4 years after the marriage, during the birth of her third child. Their children died later, all at a young age. Ramsey remained unmarried for several years and continued to work in London until he fell in love with one of his students. Margaret Lindsay came from a distinguished Scottish noble family, so her father was not very fond of the relationship with an artist. The couple ran away together in 1752 and married secretly. They had 3 children together and were obviously very happy with each other.
Together with his wife, Ramsey went to Italy again. They traveled for three years through Rome, Florence, Naples and Tivoli. There they studied the old masters, visited archaeological sites and painted. Ramsey financed the trip by painting portraits of well-off European tourists. Finally they returned to England, where Ramsey was appointed as the principal painter of King George III in 1761, succeeding John Shackelton. He outdid his main competitor Thomas Hudson, who was also being considered for the post. The king commissioned so many portraits that Ramsey had to hire several assistants, including David Martin and Philip Reinagle. From about 1770 Ramsey became tired of painting and began to take a greater interest in literature. An unfortunate injury to his right arm and the death of his wife in 1782 also played their part. Ramsey completed a last portrait of the king and left England shortly afterwards to travel back to Italy. He left about 50 incomplete portraits, which had to be completed by Reinagle.
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