Lauder, Robert Scott (1803-1869) - 1847 Christ Teaching Humility (National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh)
Oil on canvas. 237.8 x 353.0 cm.
Robert Scott Lauder was a Scottish mid-Victorian artist who described himself as a "historical painter". He was one of the original members of the Royal Scottish Academy. In his youth he showed great promise as a painter. He studied (1822-3) at the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh, under Andrew Wilson. From 1823 to 1826 Lauder was in London, where he sketched regularly at the British Museum and took life drawing classes at a private school. He returned to Edinburgh in 1826, the year the Royal Scottish Academy was established, and was elected ARSA. He exhibited portraits in the annual shows of the Academy and was made a full member in 1829. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, between 1827 and 1861. He taught for a period at the Trustees' Academy. He painted subjects drawn from the novels of his friend and champion Walter Scott, as well as from historical literature, and he showed these at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1831 and 1833. He also met John Thomson at this time, an artist whose painterly approach to landscape confirmed his own preference for romantic, expressive effects and fluid brushwork. He married Thomson's daughter and from 1833 to 1838 the couple lived in Rome, where Lauder studied the Italian masters and earned an income painting portraits . While abroad, he traveled widely, visiting Florence, Venice, Bologna and Munich. About 1860 he suffered a stroke and did not practice after 1861.
Lauder, Robert Scott (1803-1869) - 1847 Christ Teaching Humility (National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh)
Oil on canvas. 237.8 x 353.0 cm.
Robert Scott Lauder was a Scottish mid-Victorian artist who described himself as a "historical painter". He was one of the original members of the Royal Scottish Academy. In his youth he showed great promise as a painter. He studied (1822-3) at the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh, under Andrew Wilson. From 1823 to 1826 Lauder was in London, where he sketched regularly at the British Museum and took life drawing classes at a private school. He returned to Edinburgh in 1826, the year the Royal Scottish Academy was established, and was elected ARSA. He exhibited portraits in the annual shows of the Academy and was made a full member in 1829. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, between 1827 and 1861. He taught for a period at the Trustees' Academy. He painted subjects drawn from the novels of his friend and champion Walter Scott, as well as from historical literature, and he showed these at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1831 and 1833. He also met John Thomson at this time, an artist whose painterly approach to landscape confirmed his own preference for romantic, expressive effects and fluid brushwork. He married Thomson's daughter and from 1833 to 1838 the couple lived in Rome, where Lauder studied the Italian masters and earned an income painting portraits . While abroad, he traveled widely, visiting Florence, Venice, Bologna and Munich. About 1860 he suffered a stroke and did not practice after 1861.