John Hill (Circa 1801)
1
Photograph © The University of Edinburgh
Artist | Sir Henry Raeburn (Scottish b.1756, d.1823) VIAF ISNI LC |
---|---|
Title | John Hill |
Date | Circa 1801 |
Description | Practically full length portrait of John Hill, shown seated with his hands before him in Raeburn's favorite red chair, with a table covered with a green cloth to his right. He wears black knee-breeches and a black gown. Beside him, to his left, stands his son, dressed in green, his right arm behind the Professor's shoulder, his left hand resting of the Professor's arm. The boy's hand is very clumsily painted and it is possible that this figure was added subsequently. Attributed to Raeburn. Hill was born at St. Andrews, where his father was a minister. and educated at the University of St. Andrews. He matriculated in 1761 and went through the regular arts course, intending to study for the Ministry. In 1773 he was appointed to the Chair of Humanity in the University of St. Andrews, a post which he held till his transference to the Professorship of Humanity in the University of Edinburgh in 1775. Hill's contribution to the literature of the subject he professed was a large work, 'Latin Synonyms'. He also wrote the 'Life of Dr. Hugh Blair', which was published in 1807, two years after Hill's death. Professor Hill had two Latin classes, a junior and a senior class, and it was into the senior curriculum he introduced his series of lectures on Roman antiquities. Another theme on which he dilated was the nice shades of difference in the meaning of Latin words, the subject of his great work. Indeed words seemed to have had a fascination for him, for Bower states that in addition to having a fund of humour Hill was 'a most excellent punster'. He was succeeded by one of his most brilliant pupils, Alexander Christison. |
Material | oil paint (paint)/paint (coating); canvas (textile material)/textile materials/materials (substances) |
Dimensions | 124.46 x 99.06 cm |
Subject | John Hill (b.1747, d.1805) |
Collection | Art Collection |
Classification | oil paintings (visual works); paintings 1600-1800; paintings 1801-1900; portrait |
Accession Number | EU0014 |