Alexander Nasmyth 1758-1840

Alexander Nasmyth was described by Sir David Wilkie as 'the founder of the Landscape Painting School of Scotland' (Bill Smith and Selina Skipwith, A History of Scottish Art, The Fleming Collection, pg.28) and became the most highly regarded landscape artist of his day in his home country and elsewhere. Talent had been genorously personified in the figure of Nasmyth, who formed a cultural coterie around himself, including his great friend Robert Burns and many other leading men of the time in Edinburgh.

The son of a notable architect-builder, Nasmyth was born in Edinburgh's Grassmarket and began his career as the apprentice to a house painter and decorator. Meanwhile he attended art classes at the Trustee's Academy and eventually attracted the attention of the portrait painter Allan Ramsay, who took Nasmyth to London as his assistant. The time spent in Ramsay's studio introduced the young artist to the glories of Italian painting and instilled in him a love of the picturesque and dramatic landscape. A generous patron paid for Nasmyth to spend four years painting in Italy, after which he returned to Edinburgh and began to attract notoriety for his panoramic landscapes, 'united with a distinctive picturesque sensibility' (ibid Smith and Skipwith, pg.28).

Situated on the River Clyde and formed from the volcanic core of a prehistoric explosion, Dumbarton Rock and the castle of Dumbarton below, is a famous beauty spot and the site of many historic events. Taking its name from Dun Breatann meaning Fortress of the Britons, Dumbarton was the ancient capital of Strathclyde in the early and violent years of Scottish history. In 866 Olaf the White and Ivarr the Boneless, the co-rulers of Dublin waged war against the Scotch Kings at Dumbarton Rock. William Wallace was imprisoned at Dumbarton Castle and as a child Mary Stewart, already Queen of Scots set sail from Dumbarton to be married to the Dauphin of France.