The Scottish artist Allan Ramsay (1713-1784) was the son of the poet of the same name. After studying at St. Luke’s Academy in Edinburgh, he moved to London and subsequently travelled in Italy. Following his Grand Tour, he settled in London and gained a reputation as a portrait painter, rivalling that of his contemporary Joshua Reynolds. Indeed, in 1760 it was Ramsay who was appointed principal portrait painter to the king, although only a few years later he was forced to retire from painting due to an accident that left him with a shattered arm; he was succeeded in the post by Reynolds.
This issue’s cover portrait is one of Ramsay’s finest, yet least known works. It is a painting of Jean Abercromby, the wife of Captain George Morison of Haddow, and since 2003 it has formed part of the collection of York Art Gallery. Remaining in private ownership until it was acquired by the museum, the painting had not been exhibited since 1911. Excellently restored, the picture is now revealed as a true masterpiece, a mature work that is remarkable for its treatment of light and the extraordinary detail in its recreation of the sitter’s costume and jewellery. The beauty of Jean Abercromby does the rest.
