Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

CHAPTER IX
CLOSING YEARS OF LIFE; HIS HOUSE ON CASTLEHILL ;
HIS FAMILY; HIS PORTRAITS— 1740-58.
Little more of a biographical character is there
to relate. The last seventeen years of Ramsay's hfe
were passed in the bosom of his family, and in attention
to his business. His son, Allan—afterwards an artist
of great celebrity, and portait painter to George III.,
after studying, as the proud father informs his friend
Smibert in a letter about this time, with Mr. Hyffidg in
London, and spending a little time at home 'painting
like a Raphael,' had been sent to Rome, where he made
good use of his opportunities. The father's heart yearns
over the boy, and he pathetically adds :
—
' I'm sweer to
part with him, but canna stem the current which flows
from the advice of his patrons and his own inclination.'
His three daughters were growing up into ' fine,
handsome girls,' while 'my dear auld wife is still my
bedfellow.'
What a beautiful picture we get of the kindly old
poet, drawn unconsciously by himself in this letter.
Domesticity and parental affection were two qualities
pre-eminently present in Ramsay's nature.
From Mrs. Murray of Henderland we also receive a
delicious side-peep into Allan's character. In 1825 she