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THE

POEMS

OF

ROBERT FERGUSSON.

WITH

A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, AND REMARKS ON
HIS GENIUS AND WRITINGS,

BY

JAMES GRAY, Esq.

OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, EDINBURGH,
AUTHOR OF CONA," &c.

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED FOR JOHN FAIRBAIRN,

JOHN ANDERSON, JUN. 55. NORTH BRIDGE-STREET,
OLIVER & BOYD, MACREDIE & CO. EDINBURGH;

AND T. TEGG, LONDON.

BODLEIAA

11.4-1900

LIBRAR

ACCOUNT

OF

THE PORTRAIT.

ROBERT FERGUSSON sate only once for his portrait, which was taken in a singular manner by the celebrated Scottish painter, Alexander Runciman. Mr Thomas Sommers of Edinburgh, in a Life of the Poet, published by him in 1803, gives the following account of the circumstances under which Fergusson's portrait was taken: "That artist," (Runciman) says he, "was in 1772 painting in his own house in the Pleasance, a picture, on a half-length cloth, of the Prodigal Son, in which his fancy and pencil had introduced every necessary object and circumstance suggested by the sacred passage. At his own desire, I called to see it: I was much pleased with the composition, colouring, and admirable effect of the piece, at least what was done of it; but expressed my surprise at observing a large space in the centre, exhibiting nothing but chalk outlines of a human figure. He informed me, that he had reserved that space for the Prodigal, but could not find a young man whose personal form, and expressive features, were such as he could approve of, and commit to the canvass. Robert Fergusson's face and figure instantly occurred to me; not from an

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