Anne Forbes (1745–1834) was a Scottish portrait painter, educated in Rome, who worked in London and later in Edinburgh, where she was Portrait Painter to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Although her career in London was cut short by illness, she was one of the first Scottish women artists to make a career from painting, and according to Colin Russell "her importance remains in her struggle against gender prejudice".

Life

She was the granddaughter of the portraitist

William Aikman William Aikman may refer to: * William Aikman (painter) William Aikman (24 October 16827 June 1731) was a Scottish portraitist. Life and career Aikman was the son of William Aikman, of Cairney. His father intended that he should follow the l ...

, and was educated in Italy by the Scottish artists

Gavin Hamilton Gavin Hamilton may refer to: * Gavin Hamilton (archbishop of St Andrews) (died 1571), archbishop of St Andrews * Gavin Hamilton (bishop of Galloway) (1561–1612), bishop of Galloway * Gavin Hamilton (artist) (1723–1798), Scottish artist * Gavin ...

and James Nevay, amongst others. Having underestimated the travel and living costs involved, she was obliged to secure the financial support of a small syndicate of interested friends. Skinner, Basil (1966), ''Scots in Italy in the 18th Century'',

National Galleries of Scotland National Galleries of Scotland ( gd, Gailearaidhean Nàiseanta na h-Alba) is the executive non-departmental public body that controls the three national galleries of Scotland and two partner galleries, forming one of the National Collections o ...

, p. 25, She returned to Britain, setting up business in London for a few years. However, her business was not a success, Forbes being unable to produce works fast enough to meet the requirements of her clients, and she fell ill, eventually returning to Scotland. In 1788 she was appointed Portrait Painter to the Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh, and she was able to make a living, albeit not a rich one, from painting and teaching art. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has a portrait of her by David Allan.

Works

Her portrait of Lady Anne Stewart is in the collection of the

. The

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: *National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra *National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London, with s ...

in London has a mezzotint after her portrait of Alexander Hume, Lord Polwarth. Paintings of Lady Elizabeth Penelope Crichton and Countess Margaret, wife of the 6th Earl of Dumfries are in Dumfries House, Cumnock, East Ayrshire.

References

External links

Portrait of Anne Forbes by David Allan
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Forbes, Anne 1745 births 1834 deaths Scottish portrait painters Scottish women painters 18th-century Scottish painters 19th-century Scottish painters 19th-century Scottish women artists 18th-century Scottish women artists 18th-century women painters 19th-century women painters