William Aikman
(1682-1731), Portrait painterArtist associated with 29 portraits
Born in Aberdeenshire, Aikman studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He took up a career as an artist and, by 1703, was painting portraits professionally in Edinburgh. He sold his family estate near Arbroath to enable him to travel unfettered to Europe to complete his artistic training. Aikman spent three years in Rome, before visiting Turkey and then spent a further period in Rome. He returned to Scotland in 1712, where he made the acquaintance of the poet Allan Ramsay and found an enthusiastic patron in John Campbell, the 2nd Duke of Argyll, who persuaded Aikman to move to London. He established a distinguished portrait practice in London, portraying royalty and many members of the aristocracy.
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by William Aikman
oil on canvas, circa 1720
NPG 737
by William Aikman
oil on canvas, circa 1723-1725
NPG 6063
Thomas Hamilton, 6th Earl of Haddington ('Simon the Dutch Skipper')
by John Smith, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1719
NPG D31414
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by John Simon, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1719 or after
NPG D544
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by John Simon, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1719 or after
NPG D545
Thomas Hamilton, 6th Earl of Haddington ('Simon the Dutch Skipper')
by John Smith, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1719
NPG D11697
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
after William Aikman
etching, 1720s-1730s
NPG D21420
by George White, after William Aikman
mezzotint, (1723)
NPG D3989
by Francis Kyte, published by John Heney, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1728
NPG D19056
by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
coloured line engraving, published 1729
NPG D9490
by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1729
NPG D2752
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), after William Aikman
etching, mid 18th century
NPG D21421
after William Aikman
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D8205
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by Jacobus Houbraken, after William Aikman
line engraving, 1735
NPG D21422
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by Jacobus Houbraken, after William Aikman
line engraving, 1735
NPG D1343
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll and Greenwich
by Jacobus Houbraken, after William Aikman
line engraving, 1735
NPG D7094
by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3481
by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3482
by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3483
by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3484
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