Lot 156: J. Myddleton , fl. 1794-1803 Portrait of James Balfour of Pilrig (1705-1795) watercolour over pencil

signed l.c.: J. Myddleton Delt. 1794 watercolour over pencil

19 by 16 cm.; 7 1/2 by 6 1/4 in.

James Balfour was born at Pilrig, Lothian, in 1705 and after graduating from the University of Edinburgh he was called to the Scottish Bar. In 1754 he was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. During a long and distinguished career he wrote three influential philosophical texts.

Although Myddleton has dated this rare portrait of Balfour to 1794, when the sitter would have been 89 years old, he has clearly portrayed Balfour as a young man. It is therefore likely that the artist was relying on an earlier portrait of his sitter, in order to execute the work.