🎨 Scottish Miniature Portrait of Lady Scott, Circle of William Douglas, c.1827

✨ Introduction

This elegant Regency-era portrait miniature depicts Lady Scott (Alicia Anne Spottiswoode, 1810–1900), a young Scottish aristocrat who would later gain recognition not only as the wife of Sir William Scott of Ancrum, 6th Baronet, but also as a composer of enduring Scottish ballads. Painted when she was approximately 17 years old, the miniature exemplifies both the refinement of Edinburgh portraiture in the 1820s and the youthful grace of a sitter destined for cultural distinction.

🖌️ Subject and Description

Lady Scott appears in a gown of pale cream and rose, delicately ruffled and accented with an ermine-trimmed cloak. Pearls adorn her hair, encircle her neck, and rest upon her breast in the form of a pendant. These elements signal her elevated social position while also contributing to the portrait’s visual harmony.

Executed in watercolour with fine gouache highlights on panel, the portrait achieves a luminous balance of porcelain-like flesh tones, crisp details in jewels and fabrics, and refined atmospheric depth.

🎭 Composition and Technique

The sitter is shown three-quarter facing, her expression calm and composed. Douglas’s circle, known for its refined treatment of aristocratic subjects, emphasized both elegance and naturalism.

• Skin: Warm washes with subtle stippling.

• Hair: Chestnut brown with golden highlights, styled in ringlets and threaded with pearls.

• Jewelry: Pearls heightened with bodycolour, contrasted by finely rendered gold settings.

• Cloak: Cream and grey tonalities suggest the soft texture of ermine.

• Background: A restrained blue-green wash that sets off the sitter’s complexion.

The result is a portrait both intimate and monumental in effect, capturing the sitter’s youthful refinement while embodying the technical mastery of Scottish miniature painting.

👑 About the Sitter

Alicia Anne Spottiswoode was born into the distinguished Spottiswoode family of Berwickshire. In 1836 she married Sir William Scott of Ancrum, 6th Baronet, assuming the title Lady Scott.

Her reputation extended beyond her aristocratic position. She became known for her compositions of Scottish songs and ballads, many of which circulated widely in Victorian society. Her works preserved elements of traditional music while also resonating with the romantic spirit of the age.

Closely linked through marriage to the Scott family of Abbotsford, descendants of Sir Walter Scott, Alicia Anne lived into the final decade of the 19th century. Her long life provided a direct connection between the Regency world of her youth and the late Victorian era.

🖋️ The Artist and Attribution

The miniature is attributed to the Circle of William Douglas, RSA (1780–1832), Edinburgh’s foremost miniature painter of the early 19th century. Appointed Miniature Painter in Scotland to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold in 1817, Douglas earned acclaim for his delicate touch and refined modelling.

This portrait bears strong stylistic parallels with his known works: the porcelain-like handling of flesh, the jewel highlights in opaque bodycolour, and the soft atmospheric backgrounds. Though unsigned, the miniature’s stylistic affinities and provenance strongly support its attribution to Douglas or his circle.

🖼️ Provenance and Presentation

The portrait is housed in its original gilt-metal oval frame with suspension loop. The reverse retains marbled paper backing inscribed with the sitter’s name, “Lady Scott”, in a period hand, confirming her identity.

Dimensions (framed):

• Height (with loop): c. 11.5 cm

• Width: 7.6 cm

• Depth: 0.6 cm

The piece was acquired through a respected Northern Shire dealer and later catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd.

🔎 Condition

The miniature remains in good antique condition. The colours are fresh and well-preserved, with only minor surface wear consistent with age. The gilt frame shows natural patina and slight warping, characteristic of its period.

📜 Significance

This miniature is a rare survival of early 19th-century Scottish portraiture, distinguished by both artistic quality and historical interest. It captures Lady Scott at the threshold of her adult life — a woman who would later contribute meaningfully to Scottish music and cultural identity.

As a work likely connected to William Douglas, Scotland’s leading miniature painter of the Regency era, it represents not only a personal likeness but also a refined example of the art form at its height both historical depth and collector prestige.

Shipping

Worldwide Shipping Available — Professionally packaged and fully insured for secure international delivery.

Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD — Inquire now to secure this unique piece