Allan Ramsay

Alongside Thomas Hudson, Allan Ramsey was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 18th century in Great Britain. The eldest son of a famous Scottish poet and book antiquarian, Ramsey was named after his father. Ramsey completed his school education in his home town of Edinburgh. Art was also one of his subjects there, but did not go beyond the simple basics. Therefore Ramsey moved to London at the age of 20 to study with the Swedish portraitist Hans Hysing. After about 2 years Ramsey left Hysing and travelled on to Italy to continue his studies. Between 1736 and 1738 Ramsay lived in Naples and Rome. There he was taught by Francesco Solimena and Francesco Fernandi, also known as Imperiali. Both artists were to have a decisive influence on Ramsey's later work.