William Aikman

Background

Aikman was born on October 24, 1682 at Cairney, Forfarshire. Aikman was the son of William Aikman, of Cairney.

Education

His father intended that he should follow the law, and gave him an education suitable to these views, but the strong predilection of the son to the fine arts induced him to attach himself to painting. He became a pupil under Sir John Medina, the leading painter of the day in Scotland.

Career

In 1707 he went to Italy, resided in Rome for three years, after-wards travelled to Constantinople and Smyrna, and in 1712 returned home. In Edinburgh, where he practised as a portrait- painter for some years, he enjoyed the patronage of the duke of Argyll; and on his removal to London in 1723 he soon obtained many important commissions.

Perhaps his most successful work was the portrait of the poet Gay. He also painted por-traits of himself, Fletcher of Saltoun, William Carstares and Thomson the poet. The likenesses were generally truthful and the style was modelled very closely upon that of Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Towards the close of his life, he painted many other pictures of people of the first rank and fashion in England. At Blickling in Norfolk, the seat of Hobart Earl of Buckinghamshire, are a great many full-length pictures by Mr. Aikman; of noblemen, gentlemen, and ladies, relations and friends of the earl. These, with the royal family above named, were his last works; and but a few of the number he painted in London. He died on 7 June 1731.

Achievements

• William Aikman is portrait-painter known for portraits of Allan Ramsay, Lt Col Alexander Campbel and John Clerk of Pennycuik.

Interests

• Mr. Aikman was fond of poetry; and was particularly delighted with those unforced strains which, proceeding from the heart, are calculated to touch the congenial feelings of sympathetic minds. It was this propensity that attached him so warmly to Allan Ramsay, the Doric bard of Scotland.

Connections

Father:

William Aikman

Friend:

Swift