Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Nasmyth | Designation: | | Born: | 1758 | Died: | 10 April 1840 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Nasmyth was born in 1758, the son of Michael Nasmyth who was a successful builder in Edinburgh, based in the Grassmarket. The family had been masons for several generations. The younger Nasmyth attended the Royal High School in Edinburgh and was articled to a house painter and decorator. He was noticed by Allan Ramsay who employed him in his studio in London.
He returned to Edinburgh and set up business on his own account as a portrait painter. From 1782-4 he visited Italy. He was successful as a portrait painter but his political views damaged his relationship with aristocratic clients and he concentrated on landscape painting in the later part of his career. His connection to architecture came through his work as a landscape consultant. Sir Uvedale Price considered there was a close connection between landscape painting and landscape gardening and that the two professions should be combined. Nasmyth built up a reputation as a consultant and was able to see a garden or park as a picturesque romantic composition. In various cases he suggested the site of the house and its architectural character which were worked out in detail by a professional architect. He even designed various buildings himself including a small house. In 1813 he was a prize-winner in the competition for the layout of the ground to the north of Calton Hill, the main emphasis being on the views to be created. He was also involved with the design of various bridges. He made designs for 'bow-and-string' bridges and roofs, a form of construction of which he appears to have been one of the theoretical pioneers.
He died in Edinburgh on 10 April 1840. His son Patrick Nasmyth was also a landscape painter and his son James Nasmyth became an engineer.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 47, York Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | 1840 | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Cooksey, J C B | 1991 | Alexander Nasmyth | | Whittinghame | | | DNB | | Dictionary of National Biography | | | | | Institution of Civil Engineers | 2002 | Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers | | V.1 and 2 | | | Nasmyth, James | 1883 | The Autobiography of James Nasmyth | | | | | National Galleries of Scotland | 1960 | Catalogue of Scottish Drawings | | | | | Tait, A A | 1980 | The Landscape Garden in Scotland 1735-1835 | | Edinburgh | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Inverness Courier | 29 April 1840 | | | |
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