Rare painting related to American Revolution at Scottish auction

A rare 18th century painting with close connections to the American War of Independence will be one of the star attractions in a sale of fine art at McTear's Auctioneers in Glasgow, Scotland, this September.

The auction house has stated that the stunning work by Scottish portrait painter Allan Ramsay (1713-1784) is the only known painting of the artist’s daughter, Amelia, who was married to General Sir Archibald Campbell of Inverneil, one of the most prominent British officers in the American War of Independence.

Ramsay is considered one of the finest portrait painters of the 18th Century and the oil on canvas, which was painted circa 1770, is expected to fetch between $50k and $80k when it comes up for auction on Tuesday 27th September.    

Campbell was a key figure in the War and led a successful expedition against the state of Georgia. He was also held as a prisoner of war and after correspondence between George Washington and King George III he was eventually the subject of a prisoner exchange for American Revolutionary War patriot, Ethan Allen.

Sir Archibald and Lady Amelia Campbell are buried in Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey, next to Handel's Memorial.

Brian Clements, Managing Director at McTear’s Auctioneers, said: “This painting by Allan Ramsay has not been seen in public for a very long time and bearing in mind its subject matter and close connections with the American War of Independence it is likely to attract considerable attention from both sides of the Atlantic.”