The Scottish poet and playwright James Thomson is perhaps best known as the author of The Seasons, the first extended poem in English to take nature and the natural world as its primary focus. Published in complete form in 1730, its popularity was so great that it inspired the work of a whole generation of writers and artists. Thomson is shown here as part of the series of eight portraits that William Aikman produced of members of the Worthy Club. The Worthies met weekly, initially above the Old House Tavern in Leith, and then at Newhall House, south of Edinburgh. Fellow members included Aikman himself and the poet, Allan Ramsay senior. Aikman also included in this series the landlady of the tavern, Mrs Forbes.