Portrait of Clementina Walkinshaw

Jacobite

This is a very fine portrait of Clementina Walkinshaw (1720–1802), by renowned Scottish artist Allan Ramsay (1713 – 1784).
Clementina became the mistress of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720 - 1788) in Scotland during the 1745 Rising. They first met in 1746 when Clementina was living with her Uncle at Bannockburn. She was reunited with him in Ghent in 1752 where they rekindled their relationship. In October 1753 Clementina gave birth to Charles’ only daughter, Charlotte. The relationship lasted until 1760 when Clementina and Charlotte fled to a convent, to escape Charles’ increasingly violent and drunken behaviour. Allan Ramsay was the most accomplished Scottish portrait painter of the 18th century and was appointed to the position of King’s painter by George III. In October 1745 he was invited to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh where produced the only portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart known to have been painted in Scotland. The portrait was used as a blueprint for painted and engraved versions, which were employed to promote the Jacobite cause. Examples of miniatures made from the Robert Strange engraving are showcased in this gallery.

Material: oil on canvas

Size: H 696 mm x W 580 mm

Sources: West Highland Museum