Merchant recalled scarlet painting? (6)
I believe the answer is:
trader
'merchant' is the definition.
(I know that Trader is a type of merchant)
'recalled scarlet painting?' is the wordplay.
'recalled' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (to recall can mean to bring something back).
'scarlet' becomes 'red' (synonyms).
'painting?' becomes 'art' (painting is an art).
'red'+'art'='redart'
'redart' written backwards gives 'TRADER'.
(Other definitions for trader that I've seen before include "Tarred like merchant" , "One in business" , "Person in the business of buying and selling" , "Red tar (anag)" , "Retard (anag.)" .)