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Archibald Skirving, 1749 - 1819, Artist. (Self-portrait)
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Archibald Skirving, 1749 - 1819, Artist. (Self-portrait) about 1790

On Display PORTRAIT GALLERY

  • Scottish Art
This is one of a number of life-size head and shoulder portraits Skirving made while living in Rome. Skirving travelled to Italy in 1786 and worked in Rome for seven years. According to another Scottish visitor, Skirving took 'so much time and bestows so much labour in finishing his pieces that he can never do much' - the meticulous finish of his pastel is certainly suggestive of painstaking effort.

Glossary Open

Pastel

A drawing material made from ground pigment bound with enough gum or resin to hold it together in a stick, often smudged on paper to produce soft, atmospheric effects.

Pastel

Details

  • Acc. No. PG 3148
  • Medium Watercolour on ivory
  • Size 7.30 cm
  • Credit Presented by Mrs Nancy Butcher 1999

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Scottish Art