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William Aikman

(1682-1731), Portrait painter

Artist 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.

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William Kent, by William Aikman - NPG 6063

William Kent

by William Aikman
oil on canvas, circa 1723-1725
NPG 6063

Allan Ramsay, by George White, after  William Aikman - NPG D3989

Allan Ramsay

by George White, after William Aikman
mezzotint, (1723)
NPG D3989

John Gay, by Francis Kyte, published by  John Heney, after  William Aikman - NPG D19056

John Gay

by Francis Kyte, published by John Heney, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1728
NPG D19056

John Gay, by George Bickham the Elder, after  William Aikman - NPG D9490

John Gay

by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
coloured line engraving, published 1729
NPG D9490

John Gay, by George Bickham the Elder, after  William Aikman - NPG D2752

John Gay

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 - NPG D21421

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

John Gay, after William Aikman - NPG D8205

John Gay

after William Aikman
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D8205

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after  William Aikman - NPG D3481

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3481

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after  William Aikman - NPG D3482

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3482

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after  William Aikman - NPG D3483

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3483

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after  William Aikman - NPG D3484

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3484

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