Sir Henry Raeburn R.A. P.R.S.A.

1756 - 1823 • Scottish • Painter • Romantic

"I never knew Raeburn, I may say, till the painting of my last portrait. His conversation was rich, and he told his story well. His manly stride backward, as he went to contemplate his work at a proper distance, and, when resolved on the necessary point to be touched, his step forward was magnificent. I see him, in my mind's eye, with his hand under his chin, contemplating his picture; which position always brought me in mind of a figure of Jupiter which I have somewhere seen." - Sir Walter Scott, c. 1826

Born in Edinburgh, Raeburn spent his life and died there. Although he was sometimes called the Scottish REYNOLDS, and though he once met Sir Joshua Reynolds and did in fact incorporate some of the virtuosity of his style, Raeburn did not feel compelled to compete on the London scene, Reynolds's turf. He exhibited there, toyed with the idea of relocating, but resisted. He had been trained as a jeweler, and learned to paint by copying. As the portraitist of Scotland-it was said that every Scot above the level of a crofter seems to have had the means to have himself and family portrayed by Raeburn- he developed his own bold, spontaneous, and expressive style. Sir Walter Scott, who is quoted above, was painted no fewer than six times by Raeburn. Though the practice was uncommon at the time he adopted it, Raeburn painted his sitters directly on the canvas, as he saw them, swiftly and with certitude. When he was successful, as with the beautiful Miss Eleanor Urquhart (c. 1793), the result is splendid. The freshness and beauty of the sitter is captured by the touch of his brush, and her direct gaze mesmerizes the viewer, as it must have entranced the artist. The sketched-in sky and landscape attract admiration while leading the eye back to the sitter's face. For every success such as this, however, Raeburn produced several portraits in which a lack of enthusiasm and much reworking seem to have gotten the upper hand. Just two or three years after painting Miss Urquhart, Raeburn painted Mrs. George Hill, the subject of which is wearing what appears to be the very same dress. She is similarly seated, but a bit farther away from the artist and the viewer. It is clear that the same enchantment was not there. Raeburn was, nevertheless, so successful that during a 9 A.M.-5:30 P.M. workday, he painted a succession of three or four sitters. He also speculated in real estate and enjoyed the great Scottish game of golf.