XI.

PORTRAIT BY WATSON (GORDON). 1820. (No. 54.)

THE Committee were indebted to Mark Napier, Esq., Advocate, for calling their attention to this undescribed Portrait, belonging to Lord Napier, and to the courtesy (in his Lordship's absence from this country) of the Dowager Lady Napier in sending it for exhibition. It is signed, "John Watson, 1820," and is the earliest of several Portraits of Scott by the artist, best known as Sir John Watson Gordon, having assumed the name of Gordon in 1825. It seems to have escaped Mr. Lockhart's knowledge, nor has it previously been engraved.

This Picture was painted for the Marchioness of Abercorn, and presented by her sister, Lady Julia Lockwood, to Lord Napier. The interest attached to this portrait is enhanced by the following extracts from two unpublished letters addressed by Sir Walter Scott to the Marchioness of Abercorn.

"EDINBURGH, 1st July 1820.-The portrait is advancing by the pencil of a clever Artist, and will, I think, be a likeness, and a tolerably good picture. I hope to get it sent up before I leave town ; at any rate, I will have it finished so far as sittings are concerned. If I look a little sleepy, your kindness must excuse it, as I had to make my attendance on the man of colours betwixt six and seven in the morning.”

In reply to an inquiry by the Marchioness, he says :—

"ABBOTSFORD, August 2d, 1820.-The dog which I am represented as holding in my arms is a Highland terrier from Kintail, of a breed very sensible, very faithful, and very illnatured. It sometimes tires, or pretends to do so, when I am on horseback, and whines to be taken up; where it sits before me like a child, without any assistance. I have a very large wolf-greyhound, I think the finest dog I ever saw; but he has sate to so many artists that, whenever he sees brushes and a palette, he gets up and leaves the room, being sufficiently tired of the constraint."