John Carmichael, 3rd Earl of Hyndford (1701-1767) statesman and diplomat

Cosmo Alexander (1724 - 1772)

Oil on canvas

c.1750

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Sweden
    City: Stockholm
    Place: British Embassy

    Statesman and diplomat John Carmichael, third Earl of Hyndford wears a white wig and a blue jacket, across which is a green ribbon.

    In total, there are four known portraits of Hyndford: a portrait by Jonathan Richardson senior is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and a similar full-length Richardson portrait is in the Government Art Collection (GAC 1422), both dated 1726. However, this work appears to be based on the half-length portrait by Allan Ramsay of 1753 (private collection). Ramsay’s work shows the sitter wearing the star and green ribbon of the Thistle.

  • About the artist
    Cosmo Alexander, portrait painter, was probably born at Aberdeen in 1724, the son of painter and engraver John Alexander. Cosmo fled to Rome following the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, when he was declared a wanted man. He returned to London in 1754, when he was left a London house in the will of his friend James Gibbs, an Aberdeenshire architect. In 1766 he left for the American colonies, staying in Philadelphia, New York and Newport, Rhode Island, and painting portraits of the Scottish communities. At Newport he met 14 year old Gilbert Stuart, who became his assistant and travelled to Edinburgh with him in 1771. Alexander died in Edinburgh the following year.
  • Explore
    People
    John, 3rd Earl of Hyndford Carmichael (1701 - 1767)
    Places
    Subjects
    agriculturalist, male portrait, man, 18th century costume, coat, wig, cravat, riband, Order of the Thistle, Baron, Earl, Privy Counsellor, Sheriff, Envoy to Russia, Envoy to Prussia, Envoy to Vienna, vice admiral, captain (army)
    Materials & Techniques
    canvas, oil, oil painting
  • Details
    Artist
    Cosmo Alexander (1724 - 1772)
    Title
    John Carmichael, 3rd Earl of Hyndford (1701-1767) statesman and diplomat
    Date
    c.1750
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 63.00 cm, width: 51.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Presented by Miss Naja Cedergren, January 1969
    Provenance
    Presented to the British Embassy, Stockholm, by Miss Naja Cedergren, January 1969
    GAC number
    8542