John Brown Abercromby (1843–1929) was a Scottish artist whose styles and genres varied from traditional portraiture and domestic scenes to avant-garde modernist.

Life

The grave of John Brown Abercromby, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh

Although mainly linked to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

and

Midlothian Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a historic county, registration county, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh, ...

he appears to have an

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

connection, and may have been from there. He exhibited between 1880 and 1923. He lived at 17 Torphichen Street during his operational yearsEdinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1885–86 but disappears from Edinburgh directories in later life. He was married to Jessie Ramage (1851–1913), daughter of the artist James Ramage (1824–1887). He died on 30 March 1929, aged 86. He is buried in the

Grange Cemetery The Grange (originally St Giles' Grange) is an affluent suburb of Edinburgh, just south of the city centre, with Morningside and Greenhill to the west, Newington to the east, The Meadows park and Marchmont to the north, and Blackford Hil ...

in southern Edinburgh.

Known works

*Portrait of Robert Alexander (

Scottish National Portrait Gallery The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art museum on Queen Street, Edinburgh. The gallery holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. It also holds the Scottish National Photography Co ...

) *Portrait of William Beattie-Brown RSA (

Royal Scottish Academy The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is the country’s national academy of art. It promotes contemporary Scottish art. The Academy was founded in 1826 by eleven artists meeting in Edinburgh. Originally named the Scottish Academy, it became the ...

) *Portrait of

William McTaggart William McTaggart (25 October 1835 – 2 April 1910) was a Scottish landscape and marine painter who was influenced by Impressionism. Life and work The son of a crofter, William McTaggart was born in the small village of Aros, near Camp ...

(1906) *''Horse and Cart'' *''Table D’Hote'' *''The Village Maiden'' (1878) *''Making Clothes for Dolly'' *''Toddling About'' *'' Mary Cameron, artist, in her Studio'' *''Household Pets'' (1879) *''Domestic Cares'' *''Good Bye'' *''The Spires of Edinburgh''

References

1843 births 1929 deaths Scottish portrait painters Scottish landscape painters Burials at the Grange Cemetery Modern artists {{Scotland-painter-stub