George Harvey was born to Elizabeth Jeffrey, wife of clockmaker George Harvey, at 59 Main Street, St. Ninians, in February 1806, but the family moved to Stirling shortly afterwards, George senior setting up business in Baker Street.

The Young George was educated at the High School of Stirling, then apprenticed to a local bookseller, McLaren of Bow Street.

His artistic gifts were already evident and he left Stirling when he was 18 to attend classes at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh, established specifically for tradesmen to obtain instruction in artistic design. Harvey thrived in this atmosphere, studying under leading artists of the day, and eventually setting up the Scottish Academy, later the Royal Scottish Academy. He was elected to the R.S.A in 1829, becoming President between 1854-76, and received a knighthood in 1867. A history painter who favoured Scottish and covenanting subjects, his works are in many Scottish galleries, but the character sketches for them are owned by the Stirling Smith.

The Sculptor of this bust is Amelia Paton, who was a leading figure in the Scottish art establishment in the late 19th century.

Two of her brothers were leading painters; Sir Joseph Noel Paton and Waller Hugh Paton.

Amelia married the pioneer photographer D. O. Hill, and as was the convention of the period, she signed her works as Mrs D.O, Hil.

Her most important public works include the statue of Sir David Livingstone, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh (1876), the bust of Livingstone for the National Wallace Monument, and her statue of Robert Burns, Dumfries, 1882.

Amelia contributed seven of her own works to the opening of the Stirling Smith in 1874.

Object description
Type: Sculpture
Location: Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling
Material: Marble
Artist: Amelia Paton (1820-1904)
Date: Unknown

Image Details
Date: 29 March 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 320
Licensing: Image of a Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum asset. This image cannot be licensed.