Biography
Cosmo Alexander was a renowned Scottish portrait painter, active across Europe and the American colonies. He was born into an artistic and intellectual Aberdeen-based family - the son of John Alexander, a painter and engraver. Named after Cosmo Gordon, the son of the Jacobite Duke of Gordon, Alexander's life was shaped by his political allegiance, along with his artistic prowess.
As a committed supporter of the Jacobite cause, Alexander participated in the Rising of 1745 and, following defeat, led a life of exile that carried him from Rome to London, to the Netherlands, and ultimately colonial America. Today, he is remembered not only for his refined oeuvre but also as the first teacher of Gilbert Stuart, one of the most celebrated American portraitists of the 18th century.
Known For
- Portrait painting
- Jacobite portraiture
- Transatlantic artistic activity
- As the teacher of Gilbert Stuart
Student Of
- John Alexander (father)
- Indirectly influenced by Giuseppe Chiari
Lived In
- Aberdeen
- Edinburgh
- Rome
- Paris
- London
- The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague)
- Philadelphia
- Newport (Rhode Island)
- Burlington (New Jersey)
Historical Context
Alexander’s career unfolded against the backdrop of the Jacobite uprising. Like many followers of the Stuart cause, he was displaced following the defeat at the Battle of Culloden - subsequently joining a network of expats across Europe. In Rome, he found patronage within the Stuart court of James Francis Edward Stuart.
His later movements reflect the adaptive strategies of an itinerant portraitist. In London and Scotland, he worked within established artistic circles, joining the Incorporated Society of Artists in 1765. His travels to the Netherlands placed him within a competitive international portrait market, while his American period connected him to the Scottish diaspora and colonial elite, including the circle of William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin.
Public Collections
- Aberdeen Art Gallery
- Government Art Collection
- National Galleries of Scotland
- National Trust for Scotland
- National Trust
- Harvard Art Museums
- The Art Institute of Chicago
Timeline
1724
Born in Aberdeen, the son of painter and engraver John Alexander.
1742
Produced a copy after George Jamesone, inscribed with his age as 18 - an early marker of training and ambition.
1745-1746
Participated in the Jacobite Rising, likely within an Aberdeenshire regiment.
1746
After the defeat at Culloden, he dispersed with other Jacobite supporters.
1747-1751
Lived in Rome and worked within the exiled Stuart court. He produced portraits of Charles Edward Stuart and his circle.
1749
Commissioned to paint James Francis Edward Stuart ("The Old Pretender") and members of his family.
Early 1750s
Travelled through Italy and France - continued to undertake various portrait commissions among expatriate communities.
1754
Settled in London and benefited from the patronage and legacy of the architect James Gibbs.
1755-1765
Worked between London and Scotland. Undertook portrait commissions and restoration work.
1763-1764
Travelled to the Netherlands, where he painted members of the Hope family. He worked briefly within the Confrerie Pictura in The Hague.
1765
Exhibited in Edinburgh, where he joined the Incorporated Society of Artists in London.
1766
Travelled to Philadelphia and began an extended American period.
1768
Worked in New Jersey at the invitation of William Franklin.
1769
In Newport, Rhode Island, he took on the young Gilbert Stuart as a pupil.
1771
Returned to Scotland with Stuart.
1772
Died in Edinburgh on 25 August.
Will & Personal Circumstances (1772)
Alexander’s will, in which he is styled “Cosmus Alexander… History and Portrait Painter”, provides a rare and intimate glimpse into his personal and financial world at the end of his life.
He described himself as “weak in body but sound in mind”, suggesting declining health, yet careful legal clarity. The document confirms his immediate family network:
Brother: Charles Alexander
Sister: Isabella Chalmers
Grandfather: John Alexander, Doctor of Physick
The reference to his grandfather as a “Doctor of Physick” indicates a family of education and standing, while the transmission of “lands, heritages and real estate” points to inherited property.
Notably, Alexander released his brother from a debt of £500 sterling, advanced prior to 1768 - a significant sum that implies access to meaningful capital.
A particularly striking clause refers to possessions “presently in America”, reinforcing the transatlantic nature of his career and material world.