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ENGRAVED FOR THE REE.

R Scot

Mr Will. Aikman, Cainter

From an original painting by himself, in the possession

of MTS FORBES, E din?

Published by I. Anderson. Nov. 13th 1793.

Anderson 2-16-25 11516

SCIENCES
Polit

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6. 1793.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF

EMINENT SCOTTISH ARTISTS.

Mr William Aikman painter.

with a portrait.

AMONG eminent Scottish artists who have been better known abroad than in their own country, must be clafsed the object of the present memoir. Wealth may be said to be the parent of the fine arts; and a poor country must in general be abandoned by such of her children as have a desire for attaining excellence in that line; for in such a country models of perfection are rare, and few opportunities occur for an artist either to correct his judgement or improve VOL. Xviii.

A

his taste. that, as adventitious circumstances rarely call the attention of youth to that line of businefs, it is the powerful incitements of genius alone that prompts any one to prosecute the study of the fine arts, so that perhaps fewer unsuccessful attempts may be expected there to be made, than in countries which are more favourably circumstanced.

There, however, it as necefsarily happens

There are few instances of young persons in Scotland setting out in life with an intention of prosecuting the fine arts : It is scarcely ever within the view of the parents. The education of children of persons in easy circumstances in Scotland is invariably directed toward the attainment of literary knowledge, either to fit them for the profefsion of the law, or to enable them to act a becoming part in the character of a gentleman. Hence it happens that Scottish artists abroad, are in general as much distinguished for elegant mental acquirements as professional skill; which tends to connect them more intimately with acquaintances formed abroad than is usual among those of other nations, and which too often prevents them from returning to their native country, or continuing in it after they have attained eminence in their art.

Such was the case with Mr Aikman. His father, a man of eminence at the Scottish bar*, intended that his son fhould follow the same profession with him

*He was Sherriff of Forfar-fhire, and in the nomination of a lord of Sefsion at the time of his death.

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