David Martin (artist)
Encyclopedia
David Martin was a British painter and engraver. Born in Fife
, he studied in London and Italy, before gaining a reputation as a portrait painter.
in London. There he gained premiums for life drawing in each year from 1759 to 1761. He also joined Ramsay's studio as its principal draughtsman, in the 1760s helping to produce many of the coronation portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte.
He 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 the 1767 one of Benjamin Franklin
(now in the White House
, Washington, DC). 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".
As well as producing his own paintings, he copied them himself in highly-praised mezzotint
s 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) and line engraving
s 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.
In 1780 Martin returned to Edinburgh (but 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 he was appointed principal painter to the prince of Wales in Scotland. Martin died in 1797 at his home, 4 St James Square, Edinburgh, and was buried in Leith South churchyard on 3 January 1798, with his home contents and studio contents sold at auction in 1799 (in an auction taking 21 days).
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, he studied in London and Italy, before gaining a reputation as a portrait painter.
Family
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).Life
He accompanied the portrait painter Allan Ramsay on his tour of Italy in 1756–7, having already been taught by him, and after returning became a student at the St Martin's Lane AcademySt. Martin's Lane Academy
The St. Martin's Lane Academy, which was the precursor of the Royal Academy, was organized in 1735 by William Hogarth, from the circle of artists and designers who gathered at Slaughter's Coffee House at the upper end of St. Martin's Lane, London. The artistic set that introduced the Rococo style...
in London. There he gained premiums for life drawing in each year from 1759 to 1761. He also joined Ramsay's studio as its principal draughtsman, in the 1760s helping to produce many of the coronation portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte.
He 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 the 1767 one of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
(now in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, Washington, DC). His most influential works depict Scottish Enlightenment
Scottish Enlightenment
The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. By 1750, Scots were among the most literate citizens of Europe, with an estimated 75% level of literacy...
figures like the chemist Joseph Black (1787, Scottish National Portrait Gallery) and the philosopher David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
(1770, now in a private collection), and noblewomen such as the Honourable Barbara Gray (1787). His Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
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
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
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".
As well as producing his own paintings, he copied them himself in highly-praised mezzotint
Mezzotint
Mezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple...
s such as those of Lady Frances Manners
Frances Manners
Lady Frances Manners , Countess of Tyrconnel, was the daughter of John Manners, Marquess of Granby and his wife Lady Frances Seymour....
(1772 - impressions of which may be seen in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, under catalogue entries 1887 0406 87 and 1887 0406 142) and line engraving
Line engraving
Line engraving is a term for engraved images printed on paper to be used as prints or illustrations. The term is now much less used and when is, it is mainly in connection with 18th or 19th century commercial illustrations for magazines and books, or reproductions of paintings.Steel engraving is...
s such as that of William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, SL, PC was a British barrister, politician and judge noted for his reform of English law. Born to Scottish nobility, he was educated in Perth, Scotland before moving to London at the age of 13 to take up a place at Westminster School...
(an impression of which is held in the Library of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
), as well as producing engravings of landscapes.
In 1780 Martin returned to Edinburgh (but not selling his home in High Street, Dartford, until 1782), a move signalled by his admittance to the Royal Company of Archers
Royal Company of Archers
The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. It is currently known as the Queen's...
and a rare full-length portrait he painted of its president, Sir James Pringle
James Pringle
James Alexander Pringle KC was a barrister and Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.James Pringle was the son of Henry Pringle, of Clonbay House, Clones, Co. Monaghan, Irleand. He was admitted, firstly as a solicitor in 1900, and was then called to the Bar of Ireland at King's Inns, Dublin...
of Stichill (1791–4). In 1785 he was appointed principal painter to the prince of Wales in Scotland. Martin died in 1797 at his home, 4 St James Square, Edinburgh, and was buried in Leith South churchyard on 3 January 1798, with his home contents and studio contents sold at auction in 1799 (in an auction taking 21 days).
Marriage and issue
On 20 July 1771 he married Ann Hill (1743–1775), but all three of their children died in infancy.External links
- Portraits by him at the National Portrait Gallery
- His portraits at the National Gallery of ScotlandNational Gallery of ScotlandThe National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
- Oxford DNB entry