David Hume, 1711 - 1776. Historian and philosopher
About this artwork
Hume, the eminent Scottish philosopher and historian, was a close friend of Ramsay and both were founder members of The Select Society a distinguished debating club in Edinburgh. He supported Ramsay's rejection of idealism in painting in favour of a more truthful and natural representation celebrated in this portrait. Hume rests his left arm informally on two books possibly alluding to his own publications such as his Treatise on Human Nature and The History of England as well as to his knowledge. One of the volumes is by the Roman historian Tacitus. The portrait was painted as a companion to Ramsay's portrait of Rousseau which is also in the collection.
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title:David Hume, 1711 - 1776. Historian and philosopher
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accession number:PG 1057
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materials:Oil on canvas
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date created:1766
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measurements:76.20 x 63.50 cm (framed: 95.80 x 82.50 x 7.80 cm)
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credit line:Bequeathed by Mrs Macdonald Hume to the National Gallery of Scotland and transferred
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photographer:Antonia Reeve
Allan Ramsay
Allan Ramsay
Ramsay, named after his father who was a poet, was internationally renowned for his outstanding portraits. He attended the new Academy of St Luke in Edinburgh and then continued his artistic education in Italy. He visited Rome, studying at the French Academy and Naples. British residents commissioned many portraits from…