Scott David

Scott, DAVID (1806-49), Scotch painter, was born in Edinburgh, and learned his art from his father, a clever artist. He began to exhibit at an early age, but met with some rebuffs, which he keenly felt. Perhaps his earliest artistic achievement of note was his illustrations for Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, which are admirable, as are also those designed by him later for The Pilgrim's Progress. He excelled in the weird and imaginative style. In 1833 he visited Rome, and produced some admirable pictures there. His Vasco de Gama Encountering the Spirit of the Cape, which some consider his masterpiece, was exhibited in 1847. He competed for the decoration of the Houses of Parliament and the disappointment caused by his non-success hastened his death. He was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy. His brother, W. Bell Scott (q.v.), published his life in 1850.