Raeburn Sir Henry oil paintings copy original oil painting

Raeburn Sir Henry
(1756–1823)
portrait painter

Sir Henry Raeburn is a Scottish portrait painter. In spite of his status, Raeburn’s career is surprisingly little documented. Raeburn Sir Henry was born in 1756, in Edinburgh, was orphaned, educated at Heriot’s Hospital in Edinburgh, and brought up under the general supervision of his elder brother William. In 1772, Raeburn Sir Henry was apprenticed to James Gilliland, an Edinburgh goldsmith; while Raeburn Sir Henry was still an apprentice Raeburn Sir Henry began to paint miniatures, first in watercolors, then in oils.

In 1780, Raeburn Sir Henry married Anne Leslie, widow of Count Leslie, who was 12 years his senior and the mother of 3 children. In 1782, Raeburn Sir Henry joined the class under the supervision of Alexander Runciman. In April 1784 Raeburn Sir Henry left Edinburgh for Italy, where Raeburn Sir Henry stayed until 1887. We do not know how Raeburn Sir Henry spent his time in Italy.
On his return Raeburn Sir Henry settled in Edinburgh, and soon attained pre-eminence among Scottish artists. Raeburn Sir Henry was knighted by George IV in 1822, and appointed king’s limner for Scotland a few days before his death. His style was to some extent founded on that of Reynolds, but his bold brushwork and brave use of contrasting colors make his works original. Among his sitters were the writer Sir Walter Scott, philosopher Hume, songwriter and printer Boswell, critic and essayist John Wilson and other outstanding men of Scotland.

The most prominent portrait painter of his day, Raeburn was born in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh on 4 March 1756. Raeburn Sir Henry lost his father, a mill owner, at an early age, was raised by an older brother, and educated at Heriot's Hospital. In 1772 Raeburn Sir Henry was apprenticed to the jeweller James Gilliland but began painting water-colour miniatures of his friends. Raeburn Sir Henry soon attracted the attention of the city's leading portraitist, David Martin. With guidance from Martin, Raeburn turned to painting in oil and began to develop his personal style. In 1778, Raeburn Sir Henry married a wealthy widow of independent means, whose dowry permitted him to devote himself entirely to painting. Through the marriage, Raeburn Sir Henry also acquired the Deanhaugh Estate in Stockbridge. Raeburn Sir Henry was later to purchase the neighbouring St. Bernard's estate and to amass a considerable fortune by feuing both for building the Stockbridge extension of Edinburgh's New Town. In 1784 Raeburn Sir Henry travelled to London where Raeburn Sir Henry met Sir Joshua Reynolds whose style was to exert a great influence upon him. On Reynolds's advice, Raeburn Sir Henry spent the following two years studying in Italy. Raeburn returned to Edinburgh in 1787, set up a studio in George Street, and rapidly established himself as the leading portraitist of Edinburgh society. Raeburn Sir Henry was to paint many of the most prominent Scots of the days, gradually developing from bust-sized figures to full length portraits. His reputation spread beyond Edinburgh and Raeburn Sir Henry became a member of the Royal Academy in 1815. Raeburn Sir Henry was knighted by King George IV during his visit to Scotland in 1822 and, shortly before his death in 1823, was appointed His Majesty's Limner for Scotland. Alongside Sir David Wilkie, Raeburn is considered the founder of the 'Scottish School' of painting.- Raeburn Sir Henry oil paintings copy original oil painting - Raeburn Sir Henry original oil painting copy – copy original oil paintings, Raeburn Sir Henry Bio by Scottish original oil paintings of Scottish original oil painting Raeburn.

Raeburn painted over 700 portraits, including four of Sir Walter Scott in 1808, 1809, and 1823 (twice). These are discussed on separate pages. Amongst Raeburn's other most celebrated likenesses are those of Mrs James Campbell, Sir John Sinclair, Lord Newton, and Alexander Adam. Today Raeburn Sir Henry is perhaps best-known for his much reproduced image of The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch. Click on the thumbnail to the right too see an engraving by Samuel Freeman of Raeburn's portrait of Dr Alexander Adam, Rector of the High School of Edinburgh when Scott attended it.

Sir Henry Raeburn lived from 4 March 1756 to 8 July 1823. Raeburn Sir Henry was one of Scotland's leading artists, becoming especially well known for his portrait work. The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline.
Patterns on the Scottish Parliament Building, said to be inspired by "The Skating Minister"
Patterns on the Scottish Parliament
Building, said to be inspired by
"The Skating Minister"
Portrait of Alasdair Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry
Portrait of Alasdair Ranaldson
MacDonell of Glengarry
Note About Image Copyright

Raeburn was born in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh, the son of businessman. Raeburn Sir Henry was orphaned as a boy and went on to be educated at Heriot's Hospital, now George Heriot's School. At the age of 15 Raeburn Sir Henry left school to begin an apprenticeship with an Edinburgh goldsmith. Here Raeburn Sir Henry demonstrated considerable skill painting decoration on ivory insets in jewellery. From these it was only a short step to the production of portrait miniatures: and Raeburn soon moved on to full size oil paintings, something in which Raeburn Sir Henry was entirely self-taught. His employer introduced Raeburn to David Martin, who at the time was Edinburgh's leading portrait painter. Martin encouraged Raeburn's work, helping him by lending him portraits to copy.

Within a fairly short period of time, Raeburn was earning a good living as a portrait artist. In 1784 Raeburn Sir Henry was commissioned to produce a portrait of the young widow of John Leslie, 11th Earl of Rothes, who had died the previous year. Within a month they were married. Marrying a rich widow brought Raeburn a freedom of action Raeburn Sir Henry had never known before, and with his new wife Raeburn Sir Henry departed for Italy to gain a better understanding of the history and breadth of art. En route Raeburn Sir Henry met Sir Joshua Reynolds in London, who advised him on what to study in Rome, and gave him letters of introduction to many eminent people in the Italian art scene of the day.

The Raeburns returned to Edinburgh in the summer of 1786 and Henry returned to his portrait paintings, now able to add his newly acquired technical competence to his natural flair and enthusiasm. After his one foray abroad, Raeburn spent most of the rest of his life in Edinburgh, only occasionally visiting London, in marked contrast to many of his Scottish contemporaries who felt they had to move south to develop successful careers. One result of this was that Henry Raeburn was never as well known outside Scotland as his skill deserved. Another, however, was that Raeburn Sir Henry became hugely influential amongst Scottish artists in the early years of the 1800s.- Raeburn Sir Henry oil paintings copy original oil painting - Raeburn Sir Henry original oil painting copy – copy original oil paintings, Raeburn Sir Henry Bio by Scottish original oil paintings of Scottish original oil painting Raeburn.

Raeburn also benefitted from the large number of wealthy patrons then living in Edinburgh. Sir Walter Scott, Hugh Blair, Henry Mackenzie, Woodhouselee, Robertson, John Home, Robert Fergusson, and Dugald Stewart were all amongst his clients. Particularly noteworthy portraits included those of Rev Sir Henry Moncrieff Wellwood; Dr Wardrop of Torbane Hill; two full-lengths of Adam Rolland of Gask; William Macdonald of St Martin's; and the paintings of Lord Newton and Dr Alexander Adam now on show in the National Gallery of Scotland. It has sometimes been suggested that Raeburn was less good with female subjects, but a number of his portraits of women, including a full length portrait of his wife, are generally regarded as of very high quality.

In 1812 Raeburn was elected president of the Society of Artists in Edinburgh. And in 1814 Raeburn Sir Henry was elected an associate, and in the following year a full member of, the Royal Scottish Academy. In 1822 Raeburn Sir Henry was knighted by George IV and appointed the Royal Limner for Scotland. Raeburn Sir Henry died in Edinburgh in July of the following year.

Despite being less well known than Raeburn Sir Henry should have been outside Scotland during his own lifetime, Sir Henry Raeburn is now generally recognised as a world class portrait painter. The painting by which Raeburn Sir Henry is best known today is one that was almost unknown until it was purchased by the National Gallery of Scotland in 1949. His portrait of the Rev Robert Walker skating on Duddingston Loch is usually simply known as The Skating Minister. Today it is one of Scotland's best known paintings (despite unproven claims it was actually painted by the French artist Henri-Pierre Danloux) and something of a Scottish cultural icon. So iconic was it that the Catalan architect of the magnificent new Scottish Parliament building, Enric Miralles, designed the building, one of the repeating patters Raeburn Sir Henry used was said to be based on the outline of the Raeburn's painting of the minister.

The titles of oil painting old master Raeburn Sir Henry