Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: Artists and Architects: Allan Ramsay

Description: Abstract: Son of a poet, was born in Edinburgh on 2nd October, 1713, at thirteen he entered Edinburgh High School where he excelled at languages. In 1729 he entered the recently established Academy of St Luke in Edinburgh followed by a period as pupil in London to the Swedish portrait painter, Hans Hysing. In 1767 Ramsay was appointed as Principal Painter to the king. An accident in 1773, where he badly hurt his right arm when falling from a ladder, forced him to retire from painting. Allan Ramsay died on 10th August 1784.