THOMAS

See also:

• DUNCAN
• DUNCAN, ADAM DUNCAN, 1ST VISCOUNT (1731-1804)
• DUNCAN, PETER MARTIN (1824-1891)
• THOMAS DUNCAN (1807—1845)

DUNCAN (1807—1845)  , Scottish portrait and historical painter, was born at Kinclaven, in Perthshire . He was educated at the Perth Academy, and began the study of the law, but abandoned it for art . Beginning under the instruction of Sir William Allan, he early attained distinction as a delineator of the human figure; and his first pictures established his fame so completely, that at a very early age he was appointed professor of colouring, and afterwards of drawing, in the;Trustees' Academy of Edinburgh . In 184o he painted one of his finest pictures, " Prince Charles Edward and the Highlanders entering Edinburgh after the Battle of Prestonpans," which secured his election as an associate of the Royal Academy in 1843 . In the same year he produced his picture of " Charles Edward asleep after Culloden, protected by Flora MacDonald," which, like many other of his works, has been often engraved . In 1844 appeared his " Cupid " and his " Martyrdom of John Brown of Priesthill." His last work was a portrait of himself, now in the National Gallery in Edinburgh . He particularly excelled in his portraits of ladies and children . He died in Edinburgh on the 25th of May 1845 .