Andrew Robertson (miniaturist)

Andrew Robertson
Self-portrait, 1811
Born1777
Aberdeen, Scotland, Great Britain
Died1845 (aged 67–68)

Andrew Robertson (1777–1845) was a Scottish miniaturist painter.

Biography

Andrew Robertson was born in Aberdeen in 1777. He was the brother of Alexander and Archibald Robertson, who were also painters.[1]

Works

Robertson's self-portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London.[2]

Robertson created a new style of miniature portrait that became dominant by the middle of the nineteenth century; at least four examples are held in the Victoria and Albert Museum.[3] He broke with previous styles, particularly the work of Richard Cosway, and was critical of these earlier painters, describing their works as 'pretty things but not pictures'.[3] Robertson's style included larger and more detail paintings, usually rectangular, and with a use of paint trying to emulate large oils on canvas, adding more gum to the paint to give it a greater lustre and depth of colour.[4]

References

  1. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Robertson, Andrew". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 48. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ^ "Andrew Robertson, 1777 - 1845. Miniature painter (Self-portrait)". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "A History of the Portrait Miniature". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  4. ^ Andrew Robertson (1810). "Portrait of Joseph Gwilt". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 26 January 2017.