John Runciman facts for kids
John Runciman (born 1744 – died 1768 or 1769) was a talented Scottish painter. He was known for creating beautiful pictures based on stories from the Bible and famous books. Some of his most famous paintings include Flight into Egypt and King Lear in the Storm. Both of these artworks can be seen at the National Gallery of Scotland.
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About John Runciman's Life
John Runciman was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the younger brother of another well-known painter named Alexander Runciman. John's earliest artwork that we still have today is an etching from 1764. An etching is a type of print made by carving a design into a metal plate. This etching shows the "Taking-down of the Netherebow Port, Edinburgh," which was the demolition of one of Edinburgh's old city gates.
Early Artworks in Edinburgh
While living in Edinburgh, John painted many small oil paintings. These paintings often showed scenes from the Bible. For example, his painting Flight into Egypt is at the National Gallery of Scotland. This artwork shows how he was inspired by the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt.
Moving to London and Rome
In 1767, John Runciman created one of his best paintings, King Lear in the Storm. This artwork was inspired by William Shakespeare's famous play. It shows a calm king facing a wild storm at sea. Also in 1767, John moved to London. After a few months there, he traveled to Rome, Italy. In Rome, he painted a Self-Portrait (a picture of himself). He also created an etching called The Return of the Prodigal Son and drew many sketches.
Illness and Final Years
Sadly, John Runciman became very ill with tuberculosis in 1768. Tuberculosis is a serious lung disease. Because he was so sick, he decided to destroy many of his own artworks. He passed away in Naples, Italy, in 1768 or 1769.
