Anne Forbes (1745–1834)

• Anne Forbes was a Scottish portrait painter. 
• She worked in London until her time there was cut short by illness, and later in Edinburgh, where she was Portrait Painter. 
• She was one of the first Scottish women artists to make a career from painting.
• She was the granddaughter of the portraitist William Aikman.
• Educated in Italy by Gavin Hamilton and James Nevay.
• Having underestimated the travel and living costs involved, she was obliged to secure the financial support of a small syndicate of interested friends.
• She returned to Britain, setting up business in London for a few years.
• In 1788 she was appointed Portrait Painter to the Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh, and she was able to make a living, albeit not a rich one, from painting and teaching art.
• Paintings of Lady Elizabeth Penelope Crichton and Countess Margaret, wife of the 6th Earl of Dumfries are in Dumfries House, Cumnock, East Ayrshire.
• The displayed painting is a crop from David Allan, Anne Forbes, 1781.
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