William Marshall was described by Robert Burns as the 'first composer of Strathspeys of the age'; a strathspey being a Scottish dance tune, somewhat slower than a reel. Marshall was born in Fochabers, in the north east of Scotland, and became house steward and butler to the Duke of Gordon. This portrait was commissioned by the Duke and shows Marshall with his fiddle and bow as if he has just paused whilst composing a new piece - his quill and paper are ready on the table beside him. Marshall set new standards of technical accomplishment and many of his tunes are still played today.