Portrait of the Old Pretender (1688-1766), half-length, in a blue coat and white jabot, wearing the Order of the Garter, beside a carved pillar on which his crown rests, in an interior

Born in Aberdeen, the son and pupil of the portrait and history painter John Alexander, the artist left Scotland in 1745 and settled in Rome. He visited the Hague and America where he painted a number of portraits. He returned to Edinburgh, but died soon afterwards in 1772.

Prince James Edward Francis, the Old Pretender, was the only legitimate son of James II and his second wife, Mary of Modena. However the birth of a male heir was greeted with incredulity and provided the catalyst for the revolution which overthrew James II. The young Prince was sent to France and on the death of his father, Louis XIV acknowledged him as King of England and Scotland. Several attempts were made to restore James as King and during the unsuccessful rebellion of 1715-1716 he spent the night in the State Room at Finkask Castle. He retired to Rome where he died in exile on 1st January 1766.