John Donaldson - painter
Biography
Birth: 1737 in Edinburgh
Death: Oct 11, 1801 in Islington
Painter of some reknown. According to an obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine (Nov 1801) he was born in Edinburgh, the son of a glover.
Among his more memorable works is the head of David Hume which was prefixed to the Strachan and Cadell edition of Humes History of England.
Life with James Boswell
Boswell had tea with Donaldson in his Downing Street lodgings on March 4, 1763, and recalled how Donaldson had once drawn a picture of John Johnston in Edinburgh. Donaldson was described by Boswell as an interesting person "defend[ing] adultery, and [...] oppos[ing] revealed religion." (LJ040363)
Related links
Mentioned in
John Donaldson is mentioned in:
- London Journal 1762-1763
