John Syme

John Syme (1795–1861) was a Scottish portrait-painter.

Life

John James Audubon, 1826 portrait by John Syme, commissioned by William Home Lizars.

A nephew of Patrick Syme, he was born in Edinburgh and studied in the Trustees' Academy. He became a pupil and assistant of Sir Henry Raeburn, whose unfinished works he completed, and subsequently practised with success as a portrait-painter in Edinburgh.

Syme was an original member of the Royal Scottish Academy, founded in 1826, and took an active part in its management. He died in Edinburgh on 3 August 1861.

Works

He painted many portraits. That of John Barclay M.D. was exhibited at the London Royal Academy in 1819, and went to the Scottish National Gallery; it was engraved in mezzotint by Thomas Hodgetts, as were also those of John Broster and Andrew McKean. Syme's self-portrait went to the Royal Scottish Academy.

References

•  "Syme, John (1795-1861)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Syme, John (1795-1861)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.