ANDREW ROBERTSON

This portrait of a young lady seems to be a version of another portrait by Robertson sold Sotheby’s 28th April, 2021 lot 473. He repeated the pose, which gave his sitters a peculiar dynamism, for other sitters of this period. It likely dates to his time in London when he was much in demand as a portraitist.

Andrew Robertson was born in Aberdeen in 1777, his father was an architect and his two brothers were both also miniature painters. He began his artistic career at a very young age, studying under Nasmyth and Raeburn from the age of fourteen, the latter’s influence remaining prominent throughout his career.

Robertson arrived in London in 1801 and quickly befriended the renowned portrait painter Benjamin West, whose introductions and patronage helped him in the early years. In 1805 Robertson was appointed miniature painter to the Duke of Sussex, a reflection of his illustrious clientele, and in 1808 at an exhibition at the Associated Artists in Water-Colour, he exhibited portraits of no less than five princesses. A portrait of Princess Amelia in the Royal Collection, dated 1811, suggests that Robertson’s royal patronage was long-lasting and even towards the end of his life, in 1837, he was being patronized by the likes of James Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe, whose portrait he exhibited at the Royal Academy the same year.