Scottish Regency Miniature Portrait of Lady Scott (Alicia Anne Spottiswoode), c.1827 Circle of William Douglas, Rsa (1780–1832), Edinburgh

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Description

Regency Miniature Portrait of Lady Scott (Alicia Anne Spottiswoode), c.1827
Circle of William Douglas, RSA (1780–1832), Edinburgh
Subject & Medium
… Read more Regency Miniature Portrait of Lady Scott (Alicia Anne Spottiswoode), c.1827
Circle of William Douglas, RSA (1780–1832), Edinburgh
Subject & Medium
This exquisite miniature captures Lady Scott (Alicia Anne Spottiswoode, 1810–1900) at around 17 years of age, shortly before her marriage to Sir William Scott of Ancrum, 6th Baronet. She is portrayed in a gown of soft cream and rose, trimmed with delicate ruffles, and draped in a cloak edged with ermine. Pearls crown her hair and encircle her neck, while a small pendant rests on her breast — symbols of aristocratic refinement and lineage.
Painted in watercolour with fine gouache highlights on panel, the portrait demonstrates superb technical control: porcelain-like flesh tones, shimmering jewelry, and finely rendered textures that convey both delicacy and radiance.
Composition & Technique
Lady Scott is shown three-quarter facing, her expression serene and luminous, against a cool bluish-green wash that enhances her complexion and attire.
Skin: Warm peach and rose washes, stippled to achieve softness and depth.
Hair: Chestnut brown with golden glints, styled in ringlets and threaded with pearls.
Jewelry: Pearls heightened with bodycolour; gold clasp subtly modeled.
Cloak: Creams and greys suggest texture in the ermine trim.
Background: A soft green-blue ground, characteristic of Edinburgh miniatures of the 1820s.
The harmony of pastel washes with precise highlights reflects the hand of a highly skilled Regency miniaturist.

About the Sitter
Alicia Anne Spottiswoode (1810–1900), later Lady Scott of Ancrum, was admired not only for her beauty but also for her cultural achievements. A gifted composer, she published songs and ballads rooted in Scottish tradition, which were performed widely in Victorian society.
Through her marriage and distinguished Spottiswoode heritage, Lady Scott was connected to the celebrated Scott family of Abbotsford, descendants of Sir Walter Scott. Her long life — spanning Regency elegance, early Victorian grandeur, and late 19th-century refinement — made her both a witness to and participant in Scotland’s cultural history.

The Artist ✒️
Circle of William Douglas, RSA (1780–1832).
Douglas was the leading miniature painter in Edinburgh during the early 19th century, appointed in 1817 as Miniature Painter in Scotland to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold. His portraits are admired for their luminous colour, refined brushwork, and aristocratic sitters.
The stylistic hallmarks here — the blue-green ground, the jewel highlights in bodycolour, and the porcelain finish of the features — are characteristic of Douglas and his immediate circle, suggesting his hand or studio influence around 1827.

Signature & Framing ️
Unsigned, as often with miniatures.
Identity secured by the period inscription “Lady Scott” on the reverse.
Housed in its original gilt-metal oval frame with suspension loop, retaining early marbled-paper backing with the sitter’s name.
Framed dimensions: 11.5 cm (incl. loop) × 7.6 cm × 0.6 cm

Provenance
Acquired through a respected Northern Shire dealer.
Later curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.
Reverse inscription authenticates sitter’s identity and family history.

Why Collect This Piece ❤️
✅ Portrait of an aristocratic woman of beauty, talent, and cultural importance
✅ Associated with William Douglas, RSA, the foremost Scottish miniaturist of his day
✅ Harmonious palette of cream, rose, chestnut, and green-blue
✅ Preserved in its original gilt-metal frame with period inscription
✅ A rare survival of early 19th-century Scottish portraiture, with excellent provenance

Click “Buy It Now” to secure this Regency-era miniature — a rare gem of Scottish aristocratic portraiture. See less