The Bigger Picture

This impressive painting (about 4ft square) is not needed by the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, possibly as it is slightly damaged.

The gentleman depicted, Rev.George Whitfield,(often spelled Whitefield) 1714-1770 George Whitfield met John and Charles Wesley at Oxford. He became highly acclaimed as a preacher, left England for mission in Georgia. Controversy followed him but he is remembered as a man with conviction.

The artist, David Martin 1737-1797, David Martin a pupil of Allan Ramsay, was born in Anstruther, settled in Edinburgh and was the leading portraitist for some 15 years until Henry Raeburn became well known. His portrait of Benjamin Franklin is understood to hang in the White House.

The portrait is seen ready to be packed and uplifted for transport to the Museum of Methodism in London.museum of Methodism.