Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788)

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Actions Displays	Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788) Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number08215 TitleCharles Edward Stuart (1720-1788) Creator Cosmo (1742-1772) Alexander (Artist)‎ DescriptionThis rather splendid portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart was painted while he was in exile in Rome in around 1750-51. The artist is Cosmo Alexander, son and pupil of John Alexander, a notable painter and engraver from Aberdeen. The painting came from Touch House, west of Stirling, which was owned by the Seton-Stuarts, a noted Jacobite family at the time. Here, we see a youthful Bonnie Prince Charlie at his charming best: his regal poise emphasised by a red velvet cloak trimmed with ermine, lace cuffs peeping out from shining armour, hinting at his role as leader of the Jacobite army. Cosmo Alexander was an ardent Jacobite throughout his life; he took part in the 1745 Rising which ended in defeat at Culloden in April 1746. A wanted man, Alexander followed his Prince to Italy, where he became a celebrated portrait painter. He undertook commissions to paint well-known Jacobites at the exiled court, as well as members of the royal family. In the 1750s Alexander left Rome to travel to Paris and London, eventually returning to Scotland. He continued to paint portraits of prominent Jacobite families. In the 1760s he visited the American colonies; he found inspiration and work among the many Scottish communities there. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was staunchly supported by several of the great landowners in the Stirling area. We have a number of Jacobite objects in our collection. These include a punch bowl from Bannockburn used by the Bonnie Prince, and a pocket watch owned by the farmer who guided his army across the Fords of Frew when Stirling Bridge was blocked by the government forces. Production placeRome Production date 1750 - 1751 Production period18th Century Object nameOil Painting Painting MaterialOil/Canvas TechniquePainted Dimensions image Height: 700 mm image Width: 562 mm frame Height: 900 mm frame Width: 762 mm

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Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number08215

TitleCharles Edward Stuart (1720-1788)

Creator Cosmo (1742-1772) Alexander (Artist)‎

DescriptionThis rather splendid portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart was painted while he was in exile in Rome in around 1750-51. The artist is Cosmo Alexander, son and pupil of John Alexander, a notable painter and engraver from Aberdeen. The painting came from Touch House, west of Stirling, which was owned by the Seton-Stuarts, a noted Jacobite family at the time. Here, we see a youthful Bonnie Prince Charlie at his charming best: his regal poise emphasised by a red velvet cloak trimmed with ermine, lace cuffs peeping out from shining armour, hinting at his role as leader of the Jacobite army. Cosmo Alexander was an ardent Jacobite throughout his life; he took part in the 1745 Rising which ended in defeat at Culloden in April 1746. A wanted man, Alexander followed his Prince to Italy, where he became a celebrated portrait painter. He undertook commissions to paint well-known Jacobites at the exiled court, as well as members of the royal family. In the 1750s Alexander left Rome to travel to Paris and London, eventually returning to Scotland. He continued to paint portraits of prominent Jacobite families. In the 1760s he visited the American colonies; he found inspiration and work among the many Scottish communities there. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was staunchly supported by several of the great landowners in the Stirling area. We have a number of Jacobite objects in our collection. These include a punch bowl from Bannockburn used by the Bonnie Prince, and a pocket watch owned by the farmer who guided his army across the Fords of Frew when Stirling Bridge was blocked by the government forces.

Production placeRome

Production date 1750 - 1751

Production period18th Century

Object nameOil Painting

Painting

MaterialOil/Canvas

TechniquePainted

Dimensions

image Height: 700 mm
image Width: 562 mm
frame Height: 900 mm
frame Width: 762 mm