James Ramsay

James Ramsay (1789 – 23 June 1854) was an English painter who specialised in portrait painting.

Life

Ramsay was born in Sheffield, where his father Robert Ramsay was an artisan and dealer, who took on Francis Chantrey as apprentice in 1797. Robert Ramsay also published some engravings by John Raphael Smith. While still a youth, James Ramsay was painting professionally in the family business, and exhibited at age 17.

Ramsay died, after a protracted illness, at 40 Blackett Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on 23 June 1854, aged 68.

Exhibitions Ramsay's name first appeared in the catalogue of the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1803, when he sent a self-portrait. Three years later he exhibited a portrait of Henry Grattan, and in 1810 one of John Towneley. In 1811 his contributions included portraits of the Earl of Moira and Lord Cochrane, and in 1813 that of Lord Brougham, whom he again painted in 1818. National Railway Museum, York: oil of Michael Longridge. Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter: Portrait of James Northcote.