AIKMAN, WILLIAM, an eminent Scottish portrait painter, was born on the 24th October, 1682. I Hs lather, William Aikman of Cairney, Esq. advocate, intended him for the Scottish bar; but the genius of the son dis covering no charms in that laborious profession, impel led him to more congenial studies. Painting, and the fine arts, occupied the whole of his attention ; and after prosecuting these studies with ardour in his native country, he went to Italy in 1707. He spent three years in Rome, studying the works of the first masters, and re turned to Britain in 1712, by the way of Smyrna and Constantinople. In 1732 he settled in London, as a portrait-painter, under the patronage of the Mike of Ar gyle, the earl of Burlington, sir Godfrey limner, and other eminent characters of the day. Sonic of his chief paintings are in the possession of the duke of Devon shire, the duke of Argyle, the duke of Hamilton, &c. Mr Aikman died in London on the 7th June, O. S., 1731, in the 49th year of his age. His remains, along with those of his son, who had died about six months before, were removed to Edinburgh, and interred at the same time in the Gray Friars churchyard, where the follow ing epitaph, by his friend Mr Mallet, is engraven on his tomb: • Dear to the good and wise, dispraised by none, Here sleep, in peace, the father and the sun ; By virtue, as by nature, close allied, The painter's genius, but without the pride : Worth unambitious, wit afraid to shhie, Honour's dear light, and friendship's warmth The son, filir rising, knew too short a date: But, oh ! how more severe the &tiler's fate ! lie saw him torn untimely from his side, Felt all a father's anguish—wept and died.
The celebrated Allan Ramsay, Mr Somerville, the author of " The Chace," and the immortal author of "The Seasons," were among the companions and friend', of Mr. Aikman, and testified their respect for his me• mory by some of the finest productions of their muse Mr Thomson's poem on the death of Mr Aikman closes with the following inimitable lines, full of sentiment and feeling : Oh, could I draw, my friend, thy genuine mind, Just as the living form's by thee of it,ph:wps nom: mod shin, Nor Titian's colon, ing longer last than min, A mind in wisdom old, in lenience 3oung, From linwent truth where every. virtue so ;
Where all was real, modest, plain, sincere, Worth above show, and goodness mist:yen:.
Viewed round and round, as Rfcid diamonds throe. Still as you turn them, a revolving glow, So did 11;6 mind reflect, with secret ray, In various virtues, at en's eternal Whether in high discourse it soared sublime, Anil sprung, impatient, o'er the bounds of nine. Or wandering nature through, with rapttued eye, Adored the hand that made you azure sky.
It M them to social life lie bent his thought, And the light poise of mingled passions sought, converse blessed, or in the thoughtad grove the heart open every source of love, New varying lights still set betbre your eves The just, the good, the social, or the wise. for such a death, \V lio can, who will 11 fuse 'file friend a tear, a verse the mournful muse ? let pay we must acknowledgment to heaven, Though snatched so soon, that Aikman e'er was given. A friend, alien dead, is but removed lion, sight, Sunk in the lustre of eternal light ; And when the parting storms of life are o'er, :May yet rejoin us on a happier shore.
As those we love decay, we die in part ; String. ;titer string, is set ered ft con the heart, Till loosened lift, at last but breathing clay, Without one pang is glad to Kill so ay.
Unhappy he who latest feels the blow, Whose eyes have wept o'er every friend laid low ; Bragged lingering on from partial death to death, Till, dying, all lie can resign is breath.
Mr Aikman's style of painting was characterized blt the most pleasing simplicity, by soft lights, mellow shades, and mild and harmonious colouring. Ilis par traits do not possess the force or the harshness of Ru bens, nor are they, like those of sir J. Reynolds, adorned with adventitious ornaments. They have a greater re semblance to the portraits of Kneller than to those of any other artist. (o)