Early Life, Family and Training Giuseppe Macpherson entered the world in Florence, Italy, in 1726. His roots were tied to a family of service; his father, Donald Macpherson, worked as a footman for Alexander, the 2nd duke of Gordon. This connection to a noble household likely placed the young boy in an environment where the finer details of social life and high culture were part of the daily landscape. The path of an artist often begins with a keen eye and a steady hand, and for Giuseppe Macpherson, this talent led him toward the guidance of a master. He became a pupil of Pompeo Batoni, a s…