The unfinished painting
In our previous post we featured Thomas the 7th Earl of Haddington (in his red coat).
Today we’re taking a closer look at the portrait by Nasmyth of Thomas and his brothers George and Charles.
As we mentioned Thomas is on the right in the red coat. His brother George, (who changed his name to Baillie when he inherited Mellerstain) is sat on the left. It was George who, with Robert Adam, built the central block of Mellerstain House completed in 1778.
Looking closely at the painting you’ll see that the hands aren’t finished.
This is because Nasmyth painted the picture then left it unfinished for 50 years. It was after his death that paintings in his studio were put up for sale.
It was purchased by the brother of Mary Pringle who was daughter-in-law of George mentioned above. Mary Pringle’s brother recognised the men in the portrait and the family bought the painting.
Nasmyth was a very good friend of Robbie Burns and held the same left-wing views. His opinions would have put him out of favour with his aristocratic clients and when portrait commissions dried up, he painted theatrical backdrops which developed into painting landscapes, for which he is probably more famous.
And what of the brother Charles?
Charles Hamilton, (1727 – 1806) was the son of Charles, Lord Binning & Lady Rachel Baillie. He became a Lieutenant – Colonel in the First Dragoon Guards and was Governor of the Blackness Castle on the Firth of Forth from 1792 to his death at Tyninghame in 1806.