GORDON, SIR JOHN WATSON Scottish portrait painter, born in Edinburgh, was the son of Captain Wat son R.N. ; he began to exhibit in 1808. After the death of Sir Henry Raeburn in 1823, he succeeded to much of his practice. He assumed in 1826 the name of Gordon. One of the earliest of his famous sitters was Sir Walter Scott, who sat for a first portrait in 182o.
Among his works may be mentioned the earl of Dalhousie (1833), in the Archers' Hall, Edinburgh; Sir Alexander Hope (1835), in the county buildings, Linlithgow; Lord President Hope, in the Parliament House; and Dr. Chalmers. These, un like his later works, are generally rich in colour. The full length of Dr. Brunton (1844), and Dr. Lee, the principal of the university (1846), both on the staircase of the college library, mark a modification of his style, which ultimately resolved itself into extreme simplicity, both of colour and treatment. Among the portraits painted during the last 20 years of his life, in what may be termed his third style, are De Quincey, in the National Portrait Gallery, London ; the prince of Wales, Lord Macaulay, Lord Murray, Lord Cockburn, Lord Rutherford and Sir John Shaw Lefevre, in the Scottish National Gallery. These latter pic tures are mostly clear and grey, sometimes showing little or no positive colour, the flesh itself being very grey, and the handling extremely masterly.
John Watson Gordon was one of the earlier members of the Royal Scottish Academy, and was elected its president in 185o; he became R.A. in 1851. He died on June 1, 1864.