John Thomas Seton facts for kids

John Thomas Seton (born around 1738, died 1806) was a talented Scottish painter. He was known for his amazing portraits of important people, both in Scotland and even in India.

The Life of a Painter

Early Life and Training

John Thomas Seton was the son of Christopher Seton, who was a gem engraver in London. John learned painting from Francis Hayman and studied at the St Martin's Lane Academy. He also traveled to Italy on a trip called the "Grand Tour." This was a common journey for young artists to learn from famous artworks. He was in Rome in 1758 and 1759, living on the Strada della Croce. He was part of a group of artists from other countries who lived there. He even helped sort out the belongings of a young painter named Jonathan Skelton who sadly died in Rome.

Painting in Scotland and Beyond

When Seton returned to Great Britain, he was a more skilled artist. In 1761, he began showing his paintings at the Society of Artists. He started getting requests to paint portraits of important people. Within a few years, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. His portraits of Scottish high-society members are some of the most famous from his time.

He then spent about ten years in India (from 1776 to 1785). There, he continued to be a successful portrait painter. After his time in India, he came back to Scotland. He was last recorded in Edinburgh in 1806.

Famous Works and Legacy

Today, John Thomas Seton's paintings are often sold at big art auctions like Sotheby's and Christie's. This shows how valued his work still is.

In April 2008, a special painting by John Thomas Seton was almost sold to someone outside the country. This painting was a rare picture of Alexander Dalrymple. Margaret Hodge, who was the British Culture Minister at the time, put a temporary stop on its export. This meant the painting could not leave the country for a while.

Alexander Dalrymple was a very important person. He was the first Hydrographer for the Admiralty. A hydrographer creates nautical charts, which are like maps for ships. His work was key to developing the global shipping industry and the British Empire.

People tried to raise money to buy the portrait for £137,500. They succeeded, and the painting was bought by the National Museum of Scotland. You can see this important portrait on display there today.