Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 113 works by Alexander Nasmyth in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Alexander Nasmyth's most famous painting is Robert Burns (1821), whose original hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet (1787) and View Of Edinburgh Castle complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 113 works by Alexander Nasmyth in our catalog, the gallery presents the 100 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
The gaze of the Scottish poet Robert Burns meets the viewer from within this oil on canvas, a presence that feels both steady and quiet. Alexander Nasmyth captures the man not as a distant figure of legend, but as a living soul with a composed expression and a steady, intelligent look. This particular version of the portrait dates to about 1821, yet it carries the weight of a much earlier…
Alexander Nasmyth's 1787 portrait of Robert Burns is more than just a likeness; it’s a pivotal moment in the solidification of Scottish national identity. Painted during a period of burgeoning literary and cultural pride, this intimate depiction captures not merely the physical appearance of the poet but also his spirit – a blend of rustic charm, intellectual curiosity, and profound connection to the land. Nasmyth, a landscape painter as much…
The scene unfolds in 1824 through the eyes of Alexander Nasmyth, who captures the rugged essence of the Scottish landscape in this oil on canvas. Titled View Of Edinburgh Castle, the work presents a detailed landscape painting that brings the topography of the land into sharp focus. The artist, Alexander Nasmyth, focuses his attention on the dramatic heights and the historical presence of the castle, rendering the scene with a…
In this work, titled Loch Doon, Ayrshire, the artist Alexander Nasmyth presents a quiet study of the Scottish landscape. The scene captures a tranquil and serene natural setting, focusing on the stillness of the water and the ruggedness of the surrounding terrain. It is a composition that reflects the sensibilities of the Romanticism period, emphasizing the quietude found in the natural world.
The harbor breathes with the quiet industry of a bygone era in The Port Of Leith. Alexander Nasmyth captures a moment where the sea meets the shore in a soft, pastel-hued dance of light and shadow. Small fishing vessels, their wooden masts reaching toward a partly cloudy sky, bob gently in the foreground. Figures move among the ropes and sails, their lives tied to the rhythmic ebb and flow of…
The painting titled View Of The Ponte Molle, On The Sylvan Side Of Rome captures a quiet moment on the outskirts of Rome. Alexander Nasmyth, the Scottish artist, rendered this scene with a focus on the natural and architectural features of the landscape. The work is signed Alexander Nasmyth in the lower right corner.
The oil on canvas titled Edinburgh Castle And The Nor' Loch was executed by Alexander Nasmyth. This work depicts the stone fortifications of Edinburgh Castle situated upon a rocky outcrop, overlooking the area once occupied by the Nor' Loch. The composition includes figures gathered near the water's edge in the foreground, appearing small against the scale of the architecture and the terrain.
The Old Tolbooth Of Edinburgh During Demolition by Alexander Nasmyth captures a bustling moment in history. The work focuses on the dismantling of the Old Tolbooth, a significant municipal building in Edinburgh, Scotland. This large, imposing structure is rendered with multiple levels and numerous windows, highlighting the intricate details and craftsmanship of its architecture. As the building is shown in the process of being dismantled, the scene records the energy…
In this work, titled Culzean Castle From The Sea, we encounter a significant example of the landscape tradition established by Alexander Nasmyth. The artist, who was born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in 1758, moved away from his early training in portraiture to become a pioneer of Scottish landscape painting. This specific piece captures a coastal scene where the sea meets the shore, featuring a castle nestled within lush greenery and…
In this oil on canvas, Alexander Nasmyth captures the likeness of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The work originated from a specific commission by William Creech, who sought to secure a visual representation of the poet for a significant publication. It was intended to be engraved to serve as a frontispiece for the first Edinburgh edition of the poems of Robert Burns. This purpose required a portrait that could translate…
A View of Tantallon Castle1816 · National Gallery of Scotland
12
Stage Design for Heart of Midlothian; The Tolbooth1819 · Yale Center for British Art
13
Benvenu and Loch Achray, Scotland1837 · Harvard Art Museums
14
John SakaeusScottish National Portrait Gallery
15
Landscape
16
Landscape
17
Robert Burns
18
Rabbie Burns
19
Loch Katrine
20
The Falls of ClydeScottish National Gallery
21
Extensive view of Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc
22
A Wooded Landscape With Figures Amongst Ruins
23
The GrampiansSizergh Castle
24
Bay Of Naples
25
Cottage
26
Comet
27
Shady Lane
28
The Pass Of Achray
29
Dundee From Princes Street
30
The Union Chain Bridge
31
A Panoramic View Of London From Denmark Hill
32
River Scene With Figures
33
Dumbarton Castle And Town With Ben Lomond
34
A Stormy Highland Scene
35
John Scott
36
Robert Burns
37
Edinburgh From The Calton Hill
38
Broughty Castle, During A Storm
39
Walmgate Bar, York
40
New Aberdeen
41
Lugar Water, East Ayrshire
42
Robert Burns (10)
43
Culzean Castle From The North With Ailsa Craig
44
Pass Of The Cows, Highlands
45
St Machar's Cathedral At Sunset, Aberdeen
46
Landscape With A Bridge And Ruined Castle
47
Jane Ross Of Shandwick
48
Robert Burns
49
Robert Burns
50
Lady Honyman And Her FamilyScottish National Portrait Gallery
51
Edinburgh From The WestThe Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
52
Stirling Castle
53
Stirling Castle
54
Old Aberdeen From The South West
55
A View Of Culzean Castle In The Early Evening
56
Robert Burns (9)
57
River Scene
58
Patrick Miller
59
Castle Huntly
60
Patrick Miller Of DalswintonScottish National Portrait Gallery
61
Robert Burns
62
Old Aberdeen
63
Highland Landscape
64
A Highland Loch Landscape
65
Mary Drewe
66
Eleanor And Margaret RossYale Center for British Art
67
Allan RamsayScottish National Portrait Gallery
68
St Bernard's Well And The Water Of Leith
69
A View Of Edinburgh From The Dean
70
A Town By A River
71
Robert Burns
72
A View Of The Town Of Stirling On The River Forth
73
A Prospect Of London
74
Robert Burns (15)
75
Loch Awe, ArgyllshireYale Center for British Art
76
A View Of Edinburgh From The WestYale Center for British Art
77
The Old Cottage At Elery In WestmorelandScottish National Gallery
78
Landscape
79
A Prospect Of Dunoon From The East Bay Looking West Towards Castle Hill
80
Figures By A River In A Mountainous Landscape
81
Falls Of Clyde
82
Landscape, Loch Katrine
83
Wooded Landscape With A Castle
84
On The Beauly
85
A Distant View Of StirlingScottish National Gallery
86
Portrait Of An Old Lady
87
The Windings Of The ForthScottish National Gallery
88
Wooded Landscape
89
Robert Burns
90
A Rocky Wooded Landscape With A Ruined Castle By A Loch
91
The Spottiswoode Ox
92
Trees And Stream
93
Hawthornden Castle, Near EdinburghYale Center for British Art
94
View Of The City Of EdinburghYale Center for British Art
95
Robert Burns, Outdoors, In Twilight
96
A View Of TivoliScottish National Gallery
97
Landscape With A Distant Castle On A Loch
98
William HamiltonUpton House
99
A Wooded River Landscape
100
Landscape With Figures Beside A Loch
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Alexander Nasmyth | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Scottish National Gallery |
Edinburgh | 7 | Edinburgh Castle And The Nor' Loch, The Falls of Clyde, The Old Cottage At Elery In Westmoreland |
 Yale Center for British Art |
New Haven | 7 | Stage Design for Heart of Midlothian; The Tolbooth, Eleanor And Margaret Ross, Loch Awe, Argyllshire |
 Scottish National Portrait Gallery |
Edinburgh | 5 | Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet, John Sakaeus, Lady Honyman And Her Family |
 National Portrait Gallery |
London | 1 | Robert Burns |
 Fitzwilliam Museum |
1 | Loch Doon, Ayrshire | |
 National Gallery of Scotland |
Edinburgh | 1 | A View of Tantallon Castle |
 Harvard Art Museums |
Cambridge | 1 | Benvenu and Loch Achray, Scotland |
 Sizergh Castle |
Kendal | 1 | The Grampians |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
Alexander Nasmyth's 1787 portrait of Robert Burns is more than just a likeness; it’s a pivotal moment in the solidification of Scottish national identity. Painted during a period of burgeoning literary and cultural pride, this intimate depiction captures not merely the physical appearance of the poet but also his spirit – a blend of rustic charm, intellectual curiosity, and profound connection to the land. Nasmyth, a landscape painter as much…
In the sweeping expanse of Alexander Nasmyth’s "A View of Tantallon Castle," completed around 1816, we are invited into a world where the rugged majesty of the Scottish coastline meets the profound melancholy of the Romantic era. This is not merely a topographical record of a coastal fortress; it is an immersive emotional journey rendered in oil on canvas. The castle itself, perched precariously upon its jagged cliffside, stands as…
The gaze of the Scottish poet Robert Burns meets the viewer from within this oil on canvas, a presence that feels both steady and quiet. Alexander Nasmyth captures the man not as a distant figure of legend, but as a living soul with a composed expression and a steady, intelligent look. This particular version of the portrait dates to about 1821, yet it carries the weight of a much earlier…
In this panoramic view of Benvenu and Loch Achray, Scotland, Alexander Nasmyth presents a landscape defined by its structured depth and quietude. The composition begins with a detailed, rocky foreground on the left, where rugged outcrops act as a repoussoir element to anchor the viewer's perspective. This tactile, textured edge directs the eye inward, past dense clusters of deciduous trees, toward the stillness of the middle ground. There, a calm…
Robert Burns (1821), National Portrait Gallery, London. Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet (1787) and View Of Edinburgh Castle come next.
63 years old: Robert Burns dates from 1821, and Alexander Nasmyth was born in 1758.
Robert Burns, Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet, View Of Edinburgh Castle, Loch Doon, Ayrshire, The Port Of Leith, View Of The Ponte Molle, On The Sylvan Side Of Rome, Edinburgh Castle And The Nor' Loch, The Old Tolbooth Of Edinburgh During Demolition, Culzean Castle From The Sea and Robert Burns. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 113 works by Alexander Nasmyth, dated from 1787 to 1837.
Mostly in Scottish National Gallery (Edinburgh), Yale Center for British Art (New Haven) and Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Edinburgh). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1810s: 2 of the 100 works on this page were made then, A View of Tantallon Castle among them.
On this page, the earliest is Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet (1787) and the latest Benvenu and Loch Achray, Scotland (1837).
Landscape (20), Sky (11) and Buildings (10), across the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 7 of the 100 works on this page.
Romanticism, judging by the originals on this page.
Edinburgh Castle And The Nor' Loch, The Falls of Clyde and The Old Cottage At Elery In Westmoreland: the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh holds 6 of the works on this page.
Alexander Nasmyth was a pivotal figure in Scottish art history, renowned as both a portraitist and, more significantly, a landscape painter. He is often credited with being the "father of Scottish landscape painting," bridging the gap between traditional portraiture and the burgeoning Romantic movement's focus on natural scenery.
