Patrick Nasmyth

Who was Patrick Nasmyth?

Patrick Nasmyth, was a Scottish landscape painter. He was the eldest son of the famous artist Alexander Nasmyth, whilst his younger brother, James, was a prominent engineer who gained notoriety as the inventor of the steam hammer.

Nasmyth was born in Edinburgh and was named after his father's patron, Patrick Miller. He developed an affinity for art at an early age and, on seeing this, his father took a keen interest in developing his son's talent. As a teenager Nasmyth lost the use of his right hand following an accident, forcing him to learn how to paint with his left. He also lost most of his hearing through illness.

Much of Nasmyth's work, a great deal of which is undated, depicts his native Scotland, which he continued to paint even after moving to London in 1810. Like his father, he was heavily influenced by the Dutch masters of the 17th century, particularly Meindert Hobbema and Jacob van Ruysdael.

Nasmyth died of pneumonia-like symptoms, which he contracted shortly after painting a scene just outside London.