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.
by William Aikman, after Alexander Bannerman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3485
by T. Clerk, after William Aikman
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30942
John Gay ('Mr Gay, author of the Beggar's Opera')
after William Aikman
mezzotint, late 18th-early 19th century
NPG D34393
by Andrew Birrell, published by Robert Wilkinson, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1 January 1798
NPG D30937
Sir Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont
possibly by John Murphy, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after William Aikman
mezzotint, published 20 April 1809
NPG D19194
by William Maddocks, after William Aikman
stipple engraving, published 1819
NPG D30936
by Robert Grave, probably after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1819
NPG D27671
by George Perfect Harding, after William Aikman
watercolour, circa 1825-1850
NPG D19631
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