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David Martin (artist)

David Martin (1 April 1737 – 30 December 1797) was a Scottish painter and engraver. Born in Fife, he studied in Italy and England, before gaining a reputation as a portrait painter.

David Martin
1760 self-portrait
Born(1737-04-01)1 April 1737
Died30 December 1797(1797-12-30) (aged 60)
NationalityScottish
EducationAllan Ramsay; St Martin's Lane Academy
Known forportrait painting

Early life

Born in Anstruther Easter, he was the first of the five children of John Martin (1699/1700–1772), Anstruther Easter's parish schoolmaster, and his second wife, Mary Boyack (?1702–1783).

Painting career

 
Thomas Hay 9th Earl of Kinnoull

Martin accompanied his art teacher, the portrait painter Allan Ramsay on his tour of Italy in 1756–7, and after returning became a student at the St Martin's Lane Academy in London. There he gained premiums for life drawing in each year from 1759 to 1761. He also joined Ramsay's studio in the 1760s as its principal draughtsman, helping to produce many of the coronation portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte.

Martin had his own studio by 1770, by which time he had also produced his first self-portrait (now in the National Gallery of Scotland). It shows him with a clear fair skin, wavy ginger hair, aquiline nose and small red lips. Martin painted over 300 portraits in his lifetime. One of the earliest independent ones is that of Benjamin Franklin (now in the White House, Washington, DC), painted in 1767. His most influential works depict Scottish Enlightenment figures like the chemist Joseph Black (1787, Scottish National Portrait Gallery) and the philosopher David Hume (1770, now in a private collection), and noblewomen such as the Honourable Barbara Gray (1787). His Dictionary of National Biography entry states that "He portrayed his sitters with integrity in an honest natural style, thereby consolidating a recognizably Scottish tradition of portraiture". Martin exhibited at the Incorporated Society of Artists from 1765 to 1777 (being elected its treasurer, vice-president, and president between 1772 and 1777), at the Free Society of Artists in 1767 and at the Royal Academy in 1779 and 1790. He is listed in 1766 as a member of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, as "History Painter, living in Soho Square".[1]

 
Benjamin Franklin by David Martin – a portrait now in the White House

As well as producing his own paintings, Martin copied them himself in highly-praised mezzotints, such as those of Lady Frances Manners (1772), impressions of which may be seen in the British Museum, under catalogue entries 1887 0406 87 and 1887 0406 142. He also executed line engravings, such as that of William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (an impression of which is held in the library of Lincoln's Inn), as well as producing engravings of landscapes.[2]

In 1780, Martin returned to Edinburgh (although not selling his home in High Street, Dartford, until 1782), a move signalled by his admittance to the Royal Company of Archers and a rare full-length portrait he painted of its president, Sir James Pringle of Stichill (1791–4). In 1785, Martin was appointed principal painter in Scotland to the Prince of Wales.

Martin died in 1797 at his home, 4 St James Square, Edinburgh, and was buried on 3 January 1798, in the graveyard at South Leith Parish Church. In 1799, his home and studio contents sold at an auction which took 21 days.[citation needed]

In 2018, as a result of research done by the BBC-TV program Fake or Fortune?, Martin was verified as the artist who painted the portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle and her cousin Elizabeth, a work that had previously been attributed to Johan Zoffany.[3]

Family

On 20 July 1771, Martin married Ann Hill (1743–1775), but all three of their children died in infancy.

References

  1. ^ A list of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. London, 1766. ESTC T062344
  2. ^ Cust, Lionel Henry (1893). "Martin, David" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 36. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. ^ "A Double Whodunnit". Fake or Fortune?. BBC. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

External links

david, martin, artist, this, article, about, scottish, painter, other, people, david, martin, david, martin, april, 1737, december, 1797, scottish, painter, engraver, born, fife, studied, italy, england, before, gaining, reputation, portrait, painter, david, m. This article is about the Scottish painter For other people see David Martin David Martin 1 April 1737 30 December 1797 was a Scottish painter and engraver Born in Fife he studied in Italy and England before gaining a reputation as a portrait painter David Martin1760 self portraitBorn 1737 04 01 1 April 1737Anstruther Easter Fife ScotlandDied30 December 1797 1797 12 30 aged 60 NationalityScottishEducationAllan Ramsay St Martin s Lane AcademyKnown forportrait painting Contents 1 Early life 2 Painting career 3 Family 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Anstruther Easter he was the first of the five children of John Martin 1699 1700 1772 Anstruther Easter s parish schoolmaster and his second wife Mary Boyack 1702 1783 Painting career Edit Thomas Hay 9th Earl of Kinnoull Martin accompanied his art teacher the portrait painter Allan Ramsay on his tour of Italy in 1756 7 and after returning became a student at the St Martin s Lane Academy in London There he gained premiums for life drawing in each year from 1759 to 1761 He also joined Ramsay s studio in the 1760s as its principal draughtsman helping to produce many of the coronation portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte Martin had his own studio by 1770 by which time he had also produced his first self portrait now in the National Gallery of Scotland It shows him with a clear fair skin wavy ginger hair aquiline nose and small red lips Martin painted over 300 portraits in his lifetime One of the earliest independent ones is that of Benjamin Franklin now in the White House Washington DC painted in 1767 His most influential works depict Scottish Enlightenment figures like the chemist Joseph Black 1787 Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the philosopher David Hume 1770 now in a private collection and noblewomen such as the Honourable Barbara Gray 1787 His Dictionary of National Biography entry states that He portrayed his sitters with integrity in an honest natural style thereby consolidating a recognizably Scottish tradition of portraiture Martin exhibited at the Incorporated Society of Artists from 1765 to 1777 being elected its treasurer vice president and president between 1772 and 1777 at the Free Society of Artists in 1767 and at the Royal Academy in 1779 and 1790 He is listed in 1766 as a member of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts Manufactures and Commerce as History Painter living in Soho Square 1 Benjamin Franklin by David Martin a portrait now in the White House As well as producing his own paintings Martin copied them himself in highly praised mezzotints such as those of Lady Frances Manners 1772 impressions of which may be seen in the British Museum under catalogue entries 1887 0406 87 and 1887 0406 142 He also executed line engravings such as that of William Murray 1st Earl of Mansfield an impression of which is held in the library of Lincoln s Inn as well as producing engravings of landscapes 2 In 1780 Martin returned to Edinburgh although not selling his home in High Street Dartford until 1782 a move signalled by his admittance to the Royal Company of Archers and a rare full length portrait he painted of its president Sir James Pringle of Stichill 1791 4 In 1785 Martin was appointed principal painter in Scotland to the Prince of Wales Martin died in 1797 at his home 4 St James Square Edinburgh and was buried on 3 January 1798 in the graveyard at South Leith Parish Church In 1799 his home and studio contents sold at an auction which took 21 days citation needed In 2018 as a result of research done by the BBC TV program Fake or Fortune Martin was verified as the artist who painted the portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle and her cousin Elizabeth a work that had previously been attributed to Johan Zoffany 3 Family EditOn 20 July 1771 Martin married Ann Hill 1743 1775 but all three of their children died in infancy References Edit A list of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce London 1766 ESTC T062344 Cust Lionel Henry 1893 Martin David In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 36 London Smith Elder amp Co A Double Whodunnit Fake or Fortune BBC Retrieved 5 February 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Martin artist 54 artworks by or after David Martin at the Art UK site Portraits by him at the National Portrait Gallery His portraits at the National Gallery of Scotland Oxford DNB entry David Martin Portrait of an Officer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Martin artist amp oldid 1136483229, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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