Thomas Duncan Self-portrait Dated 1844

Biography

Born 1807
Died 1845
Nationality Scottish
Birth place Perth
Death place Edinburgh

Born in Perthshire, Thomas Duncan studied law before entering the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh in 1827 where he trained under William Allan. Primarily a portrait and history painter, many of his subjects were taken from Scottish history, particularly romantic, Jacobite incidents. He was appointed Director of the Trustees' Academy in 1844, after heading up the School of Colour since 1838. Considered to be one of the best painters of his generation, and a particularly fine colourist, his early death from a brain tumour cut short a successful career.