Everything about Alexander Nasmyth totally explained
Alexander Nasmyth (
9 September 1758–
10 April 1840) was a
Scottish
portrait and
landscape painter, often called the “father of Scottish landscape painting".
Born in
Edinburgh, he studied at the
Royal High School and the
Trustees’ Academy under
Alexander Runciman, and, having been apprenticed as an heraldic painter to a coachbuilder, he, at the age of sixteen, attracted the attention of
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.
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 didn't 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. 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, 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. Another of Alexander's successful pupils was Andrew Wilson, painter, teacher, art dealer and connoisseur, who had his first art training under Nasmyth
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