John Runciman: A Brief, Dramatic Life of an Eighteenth-Century Scottish Artist John Runciman (1744 – c. 1768 or 1769), a name largely absent from mainstream art history, nevertheless produced a remarkably potent body of work during his tragically short career. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, into a family with strong connections to the shipping industry—his father, Walter Runciman, was a prominent figure—Runciman’s artistic path diverged significantly from the established norms of the time, marked by an intense emotionalism and a fascination with biblical narratives and historical scenes. His…