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The son of the Rev. William Herdman of Rattray, near Blairgowrie in Perthshire. Moved to St Andrews on the death of his father in 1837 and studied Arts at the University of St Andrews. Proceeded to study at the Trustees Academy in 1852 under Robert Scott Lauder. He was commissioned by the RSA in 1855 to make watercolour copies of Italian frescoes and also spent time studying Italian peasants which is reflected in his Diploma Work. He is also associated with Scottish history paintings depicting scenes from the life of Mary Queen of Scots and the Highland clearances. He was the first President of the Scottish Arts Club when it was founded in 1873. He exhibited at the RSA Annual Exhibitions from 1850 until 1888. He became an Associate Member in 1858 and an Academician in 1863. His son was the artist Robert Duddingstone Herdman, ARSA (1863 - 1922) RSA Annual Report, 1888, Notice X; "Robert Herdman, RSA, died suddenly on the 10th of January [1888]. He was a prominent and staunch supporter of the Academy, and to them his death, as well as to Scottish Art, is a great and serious loss. His best services were ever at the command of the Academy, and in every question, whether of greater or lesser import, that concerned the welfare of that body, he took an anxious and unceasing interest. With the concurrence of the representatives of the deceased, the Council and a large number of the Members and Honorary Members attended his funeral, as their last tribute of respect to their late lamented fellow-Member. At a meeting of the Council held on the 18th of January the following Minute was unanimously adopted: - 'With feelings of the deepest sorrow and regret the Council have to record on their Minutes the death, on the 10th instant, of their highly esteemed and accomplished brother Academician, Robert Herdman, who during his thirty years' connection with the Academy zealously strove to uphold its honour and dignity. Its usefulness and prosperity were ever near his heart, and while it greatly benefitted by his wise and temperate counsel, his scholastic attainments and conspicuous practical ability were at all times exercised in promoting its best interests. Indefatigable in the practise of Art, - of the aims and influence of which he had a high conception, - he contributed liberally to the Exhibitions, and his works will be greatly missed from the walls. As a painter of portraits, especially of feminine grace and beauty, and as a thoughtful and sympathetic delineator of historical incidents, he must ever hold a prominent place in the history of Scottish Art, and his removal in the zenith of his reputation and fulness of his power is greatly to be deplored. "The Secretary was instructed to transmit a copy of this Minute to his widow, and at the same time to convey to her and the other members of the family the expression of the Council's heart-felt sympathy wit hthem in their irreparable loss." ' In 1828, Robert Herdman - the fourth and youngest son of the Rev William Herdman - was born at the Manse of Rattray, Perthshire. His mother was a daughter of the Rev Andrew walker, minister of Collessie, in Fife. Even in his early days he manifested a decided taste and ability for drawing, copying prints, sketching faces, heads, and animals, on slate and book-board. On the death of his father in 1838 the family removed to St Andrews, and there, in Madras College, he pursued the usual course of studies, including drawing and painting. At the age of fifteen he entered the University of St Andrews, and passedthrough the full Arts curriculum, standing well to the front at once in Classics, Philosophy, and the Sciences. Undecided for some time as to what his future occupation should be, although his inclination all the while was to be apainter, he went to the College again in 1846 for another Session, after having begun to teach drawing to a few private pupils. The following year saw him in Edinburgh, he having ultimately determined on adopting Art as a profession, and in 1850 he exhibited for the first time in the Exhibition of the Academy. In 1852 he became a pupil of the Board of Trustees' School, then under the charge of Robert Scott Lauder, RSA. There he studied with diligence and success, and in 1854 gained, for the best historical work by a student in the Exhibition, the Academy's Keith Prize and bronze medal. For fellow-students Herdman had many who at present occupy prominent positions in Art, and it was gratefully acknowledged by him, as it has been by others, how much was due to their able master for his kindly sympathy and guiding influence. In order to study the Old Masters he proceeded to Italy in 1855, having with him a commission from the Academy to make a drawing in Water Colour from one of Masaccio's frescoes in the Carmine, Florence. On his return, however, nine copies in Water Colour, made by him from various works in Italy, were acquired by the Academy, and they now hang in the Council-room. Whil ein Italy he executed much original work, principally bof peasant life of that country, including his Diploma work 'La Culla', and from that time he contributed largely to the Annual Exhibitions. he was elected an Associate in 1858, and attained the full rank of Academician, in 1863."