City artist's portrait expected to fetch £250k

A SELF-PORTRAIT of Edinburgh-born artist Allan Ramsay is expected to fetch over a quarter of a million pounds at auction later this month.

The painting, described as "one of the most important Scottish portraits to be offered at auction this year", will form the centrepiece of Christie's Auction of Scottish Art at the Assembly Rooms on October 23.

Laura Lindsay, director of Scottish art at Christie's, said: "In recent years Christie's has realised impressive results for Scottish art, as the category continues to attract new international collectors who are drawn to the artistic merits offered by these works. This year, our auction in Edinburgh offers an impressive and broad selection of Scottish art, led by Ramsay's exceptional self-portrait."

Allan Ramsay was born in Edinburgh in 1713, and moved to London aged 20 to study painting. In 1736, he travelled to Italy to study the influence of the Italian old masters.

On his return to Britain, he was taken under the patronage of The Duke of Bridgewater, the richest noble in Britain, and in 1760 he was appointed Painter-in-Ordinary to King George III.