VIII. WILLIAM TASSIE: HIS LIFE; HIS REPRODUC-

TIONS OF GEMS, SEALS, DEVICES, AND COINS;

HIS CATALOGUES OF 1816, 1820, AND 1830; HIS

BEQUEST TO THE BOARD OF MANUFACTURES,

EDINBURGH,

IX. THE PUPILS AND FOLLOWERS OF THE TASSIES ;

LATER MODELLERS OF PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS, .

PAGE

51

66

APPENDIX.

HOMBERG'S METHOD OF CASTING GEMS IN GLASS,

74

THE CATALOGUE.

LIST OF UNTITLED, MEDALLIONS NOW IDENTIFIED,

LIST OF OTHER MODELLERS OF PORTRAITS AND

GEM-ENGRAVERS MENTIONED IN THE WORK,

171

.

173

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

I. JAMES TASSIE.

FROM AN OIL PAINTING BY DAVID
ALLAN, IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOT-
LAND-Frontispiece.

II. ROBERT FOULIS, PRINTER AND ART PATRON,

III. (I.) LORD MANSFIELD; (2.) LORD ROCKINGHAM ;
(3.) LADY CATHERINE PAULET; (4.) GENERAL
MONCKTON; (5.) DR. HENRY QUIN, JAMES TASSIE'S
PATRON IN DUBLIN,

IV. RUDOLPH ERIC RASPE, CATALOGUER OF JAMES
TASSIE'S WORKS, .

PAGE

18

V. ADAM SMITH, AUTHOR OF THE WEALTH OF
NATIONS,'

42

VI. SIR HENRY RAEBURN, R.A., MODELLED BY HIM-
SELF; FROM THE CAST IN THE ENAMEL OF
THE TASSIES,

VII. PROFESSOR PATRICK WILSON, OF GLASGOW,

VIII. DAVID ALLAN, PORTRAIT- AND GENRE-PAINTER,

IX. JAMES TASSIE, MODELLED BY HIS NEPHEW WILLIAM

TASSIE,

2

44

46

48

50

PAGE

X. WILLIAM TASSIE, MODELLED BY HAGBOLT,

XI. MRS. JEAN ADAM, MOTHER OF CHIEF COMMIS-
SIONER WILLIAM ADAM,

82

98

100

116

Nos. II., IV., V., VII., VIII., XI., XII., XIII., XIV., XV., XVI., and XVII., are reduced by about one-half from the enamel casts of the medallions modelled in wax by James Tassie; Nos. vi. and IX. are similarly reduced from the enamel casts of the medallions modelled in wax by Sir Henry Raeburn and William Tassie; the subjects in No. III. are the size of the originals; and No. x. is reduced from the original wax modelled by Hagbolt.

JAMES AND WILLIAM TASSIE.

I.

JAMES TASSIE, modeller, and reproducer of antique gems, one of the ablest artists born in Scotland during the eighteenth century, was a native of Pollokshaws, near Glasgow, where various branches of the family had long resided. According to tradition the Tassies were of good family, and came originally from Italy as refugees, settled as tanners, skinners, and glovers on the banks of the Cart, and acquired property in Pollokshaws and its neighbourhood, some of which has remained till our own time in the possession of persons of the name.

James Tassie was the eldest son, and fourth child, of a family of twelve; and the following entry of his birth is preserved in the Register of the parish of Eastwood:-'James Tassie son lawful to William Tassie and Margt. McGhie in Pollok-Shawes was born the 15 day of July 1735 and baptised the 20 of the same instant by Mr.

wodrow, minister in Eastwood,' who on the 20th February of that year had been ordained to succeed his father of the same name, the celebrated ecclesiastical historian, as minister of the parish. In the same Register there appears this entry of the marriage of the artist's father and mother, 1728, Octr. 10. This day William Tassie Son lawfull to James Tassie in this parish and Margaret McGhie Daughter lawfull to James McGhie in the parish of Govan gave up their names in order for marriage': and also the record of his father's birth,-William sone laul to James Tassie and Jean Shieles in Pollock shawes was born the 7 of September 1697 baptized the 12 of the same instant by Matthew Crauford,' minister of the parish from 1679 to 1700. This 'James Tassie, skinner,' is assessed twelve shillings for trade and poll tax, and 'Jean Shiells, spouse,' is assessed six shillings, in the Poll-Tax Rolls for 'Eastwood Parochine,' in the year 1696. The Idate of William Tassie's death was 8th March 1758.

In his early days James Tassie worked as a stonemason, and the family tombstone in the Eastwood churchyard is believed to be the work of his chisel. It is an upright oblong slab, surmounted by a vase circled with a wreath of ivy;