Aikman

Aikman, WILLIAM, Scottish portrait-painter, was born at Cairnie, Aberdeenshire, in 1682, and died in London in June 1731. Intended by his father for the law, he followed the bent of his own inclination, and studied art instead in Edinburgh and Rome. Aikman settled in Edinburgh, and practised portrait-painting with success till 1723, when he was persuaded by the Duke of Argyll to remove to London. He executed many important commissions, including portraits of Gay, Thomson, John Duke of Argyll, Lady Grisell Baillie, and Allan Ramsay. His style was modelled on that of Kneller.