Presenting this portrait of the famous sculptor to the Scottish National Gallery in the year after his death, his daughter wrote, ?It was painted in 1832 by his friend Robert Scott Lauder RSA and is a good likeness?. In 1838 he was appointed Sculptor in Ordinary by Queen Victoria and he is best known for his statue of Sir Walter Scott for the Scott Monument in Edinburgh.
Robert Scott Lauder (Scottish, 1803 - 1869)
Lauder was born in Edinburgh and was encouraged by David Scott to become a painter. He studied at the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh for two years from 1822. Lauder spent time in London and then five years in Italy. He returned to London and was best known for his subject pictures, often based on the works of Sir Walter Scott, but he never received the official recognition he sought. He returned to Edinburgh in 1852 as Director of the Trustees' Academy. Lauder was also a hugely influential teacher. His pupils included Orchardson, Pettie, McTaggart and Chalmers.
