Sir Henry Raeburn (; 4 March 1756 – 8 July 1823) was a Scottish

portrait painter Portrait Painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to represent a specific human subject. The term 'portrait painting' can also describe the actual painted portrait. Portraitists may create their work by commission, for public and pr ...

. He served as Portrait Painter to

King George IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten ye ...

in Scotland.

Biography

Henry Raeburn's studio, York Place Edinburgh

Raeburn was born the son of a manufacturer in Stockbridge, on the Water of Leith: a former village now within the city of

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. He had an older brother, born in 1744, called William Raeburn. His ancestors were believed to have been soldiers, and may have taken the name "Raeburn" from a hill farm in Annandale, held by

Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy ...

's family. Orphaned, he was supported by William and placed in Heriot's Hospital, where he received an education. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to the

goldsmith A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Nowadays they mainly specialize in jewelry-making but historically, goldsmiths have also made silverware, platters, goblets, decorative and servicea ...

James Gilliland of Edinburgh, and various pieces of jewellery, mourning rings and the like, adorned with minute drawings on

ivory Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals i ...

by his hand, still exist. When the medical student

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended ...

died in 1778, his friend and professor Andrew Duncan took a lock of his student's hair to the jeweller whose apprentice, Raeburn, made a memorial locket. Soon he took to the production of carefully finished

portrait miniature A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques of the miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, and were popular among 16th-century eli ...

s; meeting with success and patronage, he extended his practice to oil painting, at which he was self-taught. Gilliland watched the progress of his pupil with interest, and introduced him to

David Martin David or Dave Martin may refer to: Entertainment *David Martin (artist) (1737–1797), Scottish painter and engraver *David Stone Martin (1913–1992), American artist *David Martin (poet) (1915–1997), Hungarian-Australian poet and novelist *Dav ...

, who had been the favourite assistant of Allan Ramsay the Latter, and was now the leading portrait painter in Edinburgh. Raeburn was especially aided by the loan of portraits to copy. Soon he had gained sufficient skill to make him decide to devote himself exclusively to painting. George Chalmers (1776; Dunfermline Town Hall) is his earliest known portrait. In his early twenties, Raeburn was asked to paint the portrait of a young lady he had noticed when he was sketching from nature in the fields. Ann was the daughter of Peter Edgar of Bridgelands, and widow of Count James Leslie of Deanhaugh. Fascinated by the handsome and intellectual young artist, she became his wife within a month, bringing him an ample fortune. The acquisition of wealth did not affect his enthusiasm or his industry, but spurred him on to acquire a thorough knowledge of his craft. It was usual for artists to visit Italy, and Raeburn set off with his wife. In London he was kindly received by Sir

Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter, specialising in portraits. John Russell said he was one of the major European painters of the 18th century. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depend ...

, the president of the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

, who advised him on what to study in Rome, especially recommending the works of

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (; 6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), known as Michelangelo (), was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was ins ...

, and gave Raeburn letters of introduction for Italy. In Rome he met his fellow Scot Gavin Hamilton, Pompeo Girolamo Batoni and Byers, an antique dealer whose advice proved particularly useful, especially the recommendation that "he should never copy an object from memory, but, from the principal figure to the minutest accessory, have it placed before him." After two years of study in Italy he returned to Edinburgh in 1787, and began a successful career as a portrait painter. In that year he executed a seated portrait of the second Lord President

Dundas Dundas may refer to: Places Australia * Dundas, New South Wales * Dundas, Queensland, a locality in the Somerset Region * Dundas, Tasmania * Dundas, Western Australia * Fort Dundas, a settlement in the Northern Territory 1824–1828 * Shire ...

. Examples of his earlier portraiture include a bust of Mrs Johnstone of Baldovie and a three-quarter-length of Dr

James Hutton James Hutton (; 3 June O.S.172614 June 1726 New Style. – 26 March 1797) was a Scottish geologist, agriculturalist, chemical manufacturer, naturalist and physician. Often referred to as the father of modern geology, he played a key role ...

: works which, if somewhat timid and tentative in handling and not as confident as his later work, nevertheless have delicacy and character. The portraits of

John Clerk, Lord Eldin John Clerk, Lord Eldin FRSE FSA (1757– 30 May1832) was a Scottish judge based in Edinburgh. Life He was the eldest son of Susannah Adam, the sister of John Adam and Robert Adam, and John Clerk of Eldin. He was born in April 1757 in Edinburg ...

, and of Principal Hill of St Andrews belong to a later period. Raeburn was fortunate in the time in which he practised portraiture. Sir Walter Scott,

Hugh Blair Hugh Blair FRSE (7 April 1718 – 27 December 1800) was a Scottish minister of religion, author and rhetorician, considered one of the first great theorists of written discourse. As a minister of the Church of Scotland, and occupant of the Ch ...

Henry Mackenzie Henry Mackenzie FRSE (August 1745 – 14 January 1831, born and died in Edinburgh) was a Scottish lawyer, novelist and writer sometimes seen as the Addison of the North. While remembered mostly as an author, his main income came from legal rol ...

, Lord Woodhouselee, William Robertson,

John Home Rev John Home FRSE (13 September 1722 – 4 September 1808) was a Scottish minister, soldier and author. His play ''Douglas'' was a standard Scottish school text until the Second World War, but his work is now largely neglected. In 1783 he w ...

, Robert Fergusson, and

Dugald Stewart Dugald Stewart (; 22 November 175311 June 1828) was a Scottish philosopher and mathematician. Today regarded as one of the most important figures of the later Scottish Enlightenment, he was renowned as a populariser of the work of Francis Hut ...

were resident in Edinburgh, and were all painted by Raeburn. Mature works include his own portrait and that of the Rev. Sir Henry Moncrieff Wellwood, a bust of Dr Wardrop of Torbane Hill, two full-lengths of Adam Rolland of Gask, the remarkable paintings of Lord Newton and Dr

Alexander Adam Alexander Adam (24 June 174118 December 1809) was a Scottish teacher and writer on Roman antiquities. Life Alexander Adam was born near Forres, in Moray, the son of a farmer. From his earliest years he showed uncommon diligence and perseveranc ...

in the National Gallery of Scotland, and that of William Macdonald of St Martin's. Apart from himself, Raeburn painted only two artists, one of whom was Sir

Francis Leggatt Chantrey Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (7 April 1781 – 25 November 1841) was an English sculptor. He became the leading portrait sculptor in Regency era Britain, producing busts and statues of many notable figures of the time. Chantrey's most notable w ...

, the most important and famous British sculptor of the first half of the 19th century. It has recently been revealed that Raeburn and Chantrey were close friends and that Raeburn took exceptional care over the execution of his portrait of the sculptor, one of the painter's mature bust-length masterpieces.David Wilson, '‘Chantrey's solar face': An intriguing mystery about Raeburn's portraits of a great sculptor', ''The British Art Journal'', Vol. XIV, No. 3 013/14 pp. 45–57. It was commonly believed that Raeburn was less successful in painting female portraits, but the exquisite full-length of his wife, the smaller likeness of Mrs R. Scott Moncrieff in the National Gallery of Scotland, and that of Mrs Robert Bell, and others, argue against this. Raeburn spent his life in Edinburgh, rarely visiting London, and then only for brief periods, thus preserving his individuality. Although he, personally, may have lost advantages resulting from closer association with the leaders of

English art English art is the body of visual arts made in England. England has Europe's earliest and northernmost ice-age cave art. Prehistoric art in England largely corresponds with art made elsewhere in contemporary Britain, but early medieval Anglo-Sa ...

, and from contact with a wider public,

Scottish art Scottish art is the body of visual art made in what is now Scotland, or about Scottish subjects, since prehistoric times. It forms a distinctive tradition within European art, but the political union with England has led its partial subsumation ...

gained much from his disinclination to leave his native land. He became the acknowledged chief of the school which was growing up in Scotland during the early 19th century, and his example and influence at a critical period were of major importance. So varied were his other interests that sitters used to say of him, "You would never take him for a painter till he seizes the brush and palette." The Skating Minister

In 1812 he was elected president of the Society of Artists in Edinburgh; and in 1814 associate, and in the following year full member, of the

Royal Scottish Academy The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is the country’s national academy of art. It promotes contemporary Scottish art. The Academy was founded in 1826 by eleven artists meeting in Edinburgh. Originally named the Scottish Academy, it became the ...

. On 29 August 1822 he received a

knighthood A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the ...

during the visit of King George IV to Scotland and appointed His Majesty's limner for Scotland at the Earl of Hopetoun house. He died in Edinburgh not long after on 8 July 1823. Raeburn had all the essential qualities of a popular and successful portrait painter. He was able to produce a telling and forcible likeness; his work is distinguished by powerful characterisation, stark realism, dramatic and unusual lighting effects, and swift and broad handling of the most resolute sort. David Wilkie recorded that, while travelling in Spain and studying the works of

Diego Velázquez Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (baptized June 6, 1599August 6, 1660) was a Spanish painter, the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal, and of the Spanish Golden Age. He was an individualistic artist of th ...

, the brushwork reminded him constantly of the "square touch" of Raeburn. Scottish physician and writer John Brown wrote that Raeburn "never fails in giving a likeness at once vivid, unmistakable and pleasing. He paints the truth, and he paints it with love".Coltman, 295 Raeburn has been described as a "famously intuitive" portrait painter. He was unusual amongst many of his contemporaries, such as Reynolds, in the extent of his philosophy of painting directly from life; he made no preliminary sketches. This attitude partly explains the often coarse modelling and clashing colour combinations he employed, in contrast to the more refined style of

Thomas Gainsborough Thomas Gainsborough (14 May 1727 (baptised) – 2 August 1788) was an English portrait and landscape painter, draughtsman, and printmaker. Along with his rival Sir Joshua Reynolds, he is considered one of the most important British artists of ...

and Reynolds. However these qualities and those mentioned above anticipate many of the later developments in painting of the 19th century from

romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

Impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passa ...

. Sir Henry Raeburn died in St Bernard's House Stockbridge, Edinburgh. He is buried in St. Cuthbert's churchyard against the east wall (the monument erected by Raeburn in advance) but also has a secondary memorial in the Church of St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh. His studio on York Place was taken over by the artist

Colvin Smith Colvin Smith RSA (1795 – 21 July 1875) was a Scottish portraitist. Life Smith was born at Brechin, in Angus, the son of John Smith, a merchant, and his wife, Cecilia Gillies. He studied art in London at the Royal Academy Schools and worked ...

Subjects

Raeburn made more than a thousand paintings spanning 50 years. His subjects include: *Rev Robert Dickson *Sir George Abercromby, 4th Baronet *Countess of Aboyne, (Lady Mary Douglas, daughter of James, fourteenth Earl of Morton) *Dr

*Robert Adam *Mrs Robert Adam * Archibald Alison * Alexander Allan *David Anderson *

Sir David Baird General Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet, of Newbyth, GCB (6 December 1757 – 18 August 1829) was a British Army officer. Military career He was born at Newbyth House in Haddingtonshire, Scotland, the son of an Edinburgh merchant family, and enter ...

*Mrs Henry Balfour (Jane Elliot) *Lady Belhaven *Mrs George Bell *Mrs E Bethune *The Binning children *

*Mrs Irvine J Boswell *Helen Boyle *Andrew Buchanon *John Campbell of John Campbell Snr & Co. *

Colonel Alexander Campbell of Possil Colonel Alexander Campbell of Possil (see Carter-Campbell of Possil) (1754–1849) entered the army as an ensign in the 42nd Regiment in April 1769, and obtained a lieutenancy in the 2nd Battalion Royals the following year in Menorca. Milit ...

*Mrs Alexander Campbell of Possil *Sir Duncan Campbell, Scots Guards *Master John Campbell of Saddell *Rev. Alexander Carlyle *Alexander Carre of Cavers *Master Cathcart *Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey *Charles Christie *Miss Jean Christie *

*Mrs Jean Cockburn Ross *Jacobina Copland * William Creech * John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute *James Cruikshank *Mrs James Cruikshank *John Cuninghame of Craigends *Mrs Alexander Dirom, (Anne Fotheringham) *Lady Harriet Don, with her son *Lord Douglas (Earl of Home), as a student *Elizabeth Douglas of Brigton (née Graham) *Margaret Douglas, of Brigton, afterwards Mrs. Hunter, of Burnside *Rev. Robert Douglas, D.D., of Galashiels; died 1820 *The Drummond children *

George Duff Captain George Duff RN (c. 1 February 1764 – 21 October 1805) was a British naval officer during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, who was killed by a cannonball at the Battle of Trafalg ...

James Duff, 4th Earl Fife James Duff, 4th Earl Fife, KT, GCH (6 October 1776 – 9 March 1857), was a Scot who became a Spanish general. Biography James was the elder son of the Hon. Alexander Duff, who succeeded his brother as third Earl Fife in 1809. He was educate ...

* Norwich Duff * Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville * Thomas Elder (Lord Provost of Edinburgh) *Lady Elibank *William Fairlie *Archibald Farquharson of

Finzean Finzean (; gd, Fìnnean) is a rural community, electoral polling district, community council area and former ecclesiastical parish, which forms the southern part of the Parish of Birse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Finzean was the subject of many we ...

* Robert Fergusson and his brother Lieutenant-General Sir Ronald Fergusson, "The Archers" (

Royal Company of Archers The Royal Company of Archers, The King's Bodyguard for Scotland is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's bodyguard in Scotland—a role it has performed since 1822 during the reign of King George IV when the company provided a per ...

) * William Forbes of Callendar (1756–1823), coppersmith and landowner *Mrs Gevine *Eleanor Margaret Gibson-Carmichael *

Karl Ludwig Giesecke Carl Ludwig Giesecke FRSE (6 April 1761 in Augsburg – 5 March 1833 in Dublin) was a German actor, librettist, polar explorer and mineralogist. In his youth he was called Johann Georg Metzler; in his later career in Ireland he was Sir Charl ...

*William Glendonwyn *Mrs Glendowyn and her daughter Mary * Niel Gow *John Gray of Carntyne *Mrs James Gregory (Isabella McLeod) *Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton (1757–1816), writer and educationalist *Major James Lee Harvey, Gordon Highlanders * Thomas Robert Hay, 11th Earl of Kinnoull *Captain Hay of Spot *Mrs Andrew Hay (Elizabeth Robinson) *Mrs Alexander Henderson * Principal George Hill of

St Andrews St Andrews ( la, S. Andrea(s); sco, Saunt Aundraes; gd, Cill Rìmhinn) is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fourt ...

*Mrs George Hill *

*The Rt Hon

Charles Hope-Weir The Hon. Charles Hope-Weir (or Hope-Vere) (8 May 1710 – 30 December 1791) was a Scottish politician. Life Born The Hon. Charles Hope, he was the second son of Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun and Lady Henrietta Johnstone, daughter of Willia ...

Hugh Hope Hugh Hope (1782–1822) was a civil servant for the East India Company and the third son of Sir Archibald Hope, 9th Baronet Hope of Craighall. A portrait of Hugh Hope, painted by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756–1823), currently hangs in The Clevela ...

Thomas Charles Hope Thomas Charles Hope (21 July 1766 – 13 June 1844) was a British physician, chemist and lecturer. He proved the existence of the element strontium, and gave his name to Hope's Experiment, which shows that water reaches its maximum density at ...

, physician and chemist *

Francis Horner Francis Horner FRSE (12 August 1778 – 8 February 1817) was a Scottish Whig politician, journalist, lawyer and political economist. Early life: 1778–1807 He was born in Edinburgh the son of John Horner a linen merchant and his wife Joanna B ...

, political economist *Dr

, geologist *Captain Charles Inglis, naval officer *Sir Patrick Inglis, 5th Baronet of Sunnyside *John Jameson, founder of Jameson Irish whiskey, and his wife Margaret Haig *

Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (23 October 1773 – 26 January 1850) was a Scottish judge and literary critic. Life He was born at 7 Charles Street near Potterow in south Edinburgh, the son of George Jeffrey, a clerk in the Court of Sessio ...

*John Johnstone, Betty Johnstone and Miss Wedderburn *Mrs Johnston of Straiton *Mrs Johnstone of Baldovie *Dr Colin Lauder (1750–1831), FRCS, & Burgess of Edinburgh *Zepherina Loughnan, Mrs Henry Veitch of Eliock *William Macdonald of St Martin's *Colonel

Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry Colonel Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry (15 September 1773 – 17 January 1828), sometimes called by the Gaelic version of his name, Alastair or Alasdair, was clan chief of Clan MacDonell of Glengarry. As was customary for a laird (l ...

(1771–1828) *Allan MacDougall WS of Gallanach and Hayfield * Lt. Gen. General Hay MacDowall *Mrs George Mackay of Bighouse (Louisa Campbell) *

*Francis MacNab, The MacNab * Robert Macqueen, Lord Braxfield (1722–1799), Lord Justice-Clerk 1798 *George Malcolm *Mrs Malcolm *Mrs Hugh Smyth Mercer (née Wilson) *Captain Patrick Miller * Robert Scott Moncrieff * Alexander Monro * Sir James Montgomery, 2nd Baronet of Stanhope *Thomas Mure of Warriston *Sir William Nairne,

Lord Dunsinane Sir William Nairne, Lord Dunsinane, 5th Baronet of Nairne (c. 1731–1811) was a Scottish advocate and judge, and the uncle of Katherine Ogilvie. The title of Lord Dunsinane was taken from Dunsinane Hill, a ruined fort near Collace, Perthshire, ...

, 5th Baronet of Nairne *Sir William Napier, Baronet *Lord Newton *Rev. Principal Nicoll, D.D. *Mrs George Paterson of Huntly Castle *Mrs James Paterson *The Patterson children *

John Playfair John Playfair FRSE, FRS (10 March 1748 – 20 July 1819) was a Church of Scotland minister, remembered as a scientist and mathematician, and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He is best known for his book ''Illu ...

*Henry Raeburn *Lady Raeburn *Miss Davidson Reid *

John Rennie the Elder John Rennie FRSE FRS (7 June 1761 – 4 October 1821) was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, docks and warehouses, and a pioneer in the use of structural cast-iron. Early years He was born the younger son of James Re ...

, engineer *Professor William Richardson * William Robertson *

Adam Rolland Adam Rolland of Gask FRSE (1734–1819) was a Scottish judge and philanthropist. He was co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, personal friend of Lord Melbourne and the basis of the character of Paul Pleydell in the novel ''Guy Mannering'' ...

of Gask * Daniel Rutherford *Colonel Francis James Scott * Sir Walter Scott, 1st Bt *Alexander Shaw *Mrs Simpson * Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet *Andrew Spottiswoode *

*Mrs Anne Stewart *Lieutenant General William Stuart (1778–1837) * John Swinton, Lord Swinton *John Tait and his grandson *John Tait of Harvieston *Rev John Thomson (1778–1840) of Duddingston *Eliza Tod of Drygrange (née Pringle) *Lady Anne Torphicen *Captain Willian Tytler *Miss Eleanor Urquhart *James Usher of Toftfield *Rev Robert Walker (1755–1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch *Dr Wardrop of Torbane Hill *Rev Sir Henry Moncrieff Wellwood *

Hugh William Williams Hugh William Williams FRSE (1773–1829), known as "Grecian Williams," was a Scottish landscape painter. Life Williams was born onboard the ship of his father, Captain Williams, whilst en route to the West Indies. His mother, "Miss Lewis", die ...

* Lord Woodhouselee *Dr Rev David Johnston (1934 - 1824) Founder of Edinburgh Asylum for the Industrious Blind (now Royal Blind)

Notes

Bibliography

*Andrew, William Raeburn.
Life of Sir Henry Raeburn, R. A.
' (London: W. H. Allen & co., 1886). *Armstrong, Sir W. ''Sir Henry Raeburn'' (London, 1901.)
''Masters in Art''
volume 6 (Boston, 1905) p. 423 ff. * Coltman, V. (2013). Henry Raeburn's Portraits of Distant Sons in the Global British Empire. ''Art Bulletin'', 95(2), 294–311. *Clouston, R. S.
Sir Henry Raeburn
' (London: G. Newnes, 1907). * Caw, James Lewis.
Raeburn
' (London, T. C. and E. C. Jack, 1909) – with colour plates of his paintings. *Greig, James.
Sir Henry Raeburn: His Life and Works
' (London: "The Connoisseur", 1911) * Macmillan, Duncan (1984), ''Scottish Painting: Ramsay to Raeburn'', in Parker, Geoffrey (ed.), '' Cencrastus'' No. 17, Summer 1984, pp. 25 – 29, * * *

External links

*
Works in the National Galleries of ScotlandGallery of works
by Henry Raeburn

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raeburn, Henry 1756 births 1823 deaths 18th-century Scottish painters Scottish male painters 19th-century Scottish painters Artists from Edinburgh People educated at George Heriot's School Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Members of the Royal Company of Archers People of the Scottish Enlightenment Royal Scottish Academicians Scottish jewellers Scottish knights Scottish portrait painters Royal Academicians Knights Bachelor