Henry Raeburn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry Raeburn
Raeburn in a self-portrait, c. 1820
Born	Henry (1756-03-04)4 March 1756 Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	8 July 1823(1823-07-08) (aged 67) Edinburgh, Scotland
Known for	Portrait painting
Spouse(s)	Ann Edgar
Elected	FRSE, RSA, RA
Patron(s)	King George IV

Sir Henry Raeburn (born March 4, 1756 – died July 8, 1823) was a famous Scottish artist. He was known for painting portraits of people. He even became the official Portrait Painter for King George IV in Scotland.

The Life of Henry Raeburn

Raeburn's studio in Edinburgh's New Town

Henry Raeburn was born in a village called Stockbridge. This village is now part of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was a manufacturer. Henry had an older brother named William.

Sadly, Henry became an orphan. His older brother William helped him. Henry went to Heriot's Hospital for his education. When he was 15, he started learning to be a goldsmith in Edinburgh. He made small drawings on ivory for jewelry.

From Goldsmith to Painter

Henry soon started painting tiny portraits. These were called portrait miniatures. He became good at them and found people who wanted to buy his art. Then, he started painting with oil paints. He taught himself how to do this.

His goldsmith boss, James Gilliland, saw Henry's talent. He introduced Henry to David Martin. Martin was a leading portrait painter in Edinburgh. Henry learned a lot by copying other portraits. Soon, he decided to become a full-time painter. His first known portrait is of George Chalmers, painted in 1776.

Travels and Marriage

Portrait of James and John Lee Allen, early 1790s

The Archers by Sir Henry Raeburn shows Robert Ferguson with his brother Ronald (1789/1790)

When Henry was in his early twenties, he met Ann Edgar. She was a young lady he saw while sketching outdoors. Ann was a widow and had a lot of money. She was fascinated by Henry, and they got married within a month.

Having money helped Henry focus on his art. He decided to travel to Italy, which was common for artists. In London, he met Sir Joshua Reynolds, a very important artist. Reynolds gave him advice on what to study in Rome. He told Henry to look at the works of Michelangelo.

In Rome, Henry met other artists and an antique dealer. The dealer gave him great advice: "never copy an object from memory." This meant Henry should always have his subject right in front of him. After two years of studying in Italy, Henry returned to Edinburgh in 1787. He began a very successful career as a portrait painter.

Famous Subjects and Style

Raeburn's portrait of Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry (1812)

Raeburn's portrait of Sir Walter Scott (1822)

Raeburn painted many important people in Edinburgh. These included famous writers like Sir Walter Scott and Henry Mackenzie. He also painted thinkers like Dugald Stewart. His later works showed strong characters and unique lighting.

Some people thought he was not as good at painting women. But his portraits of his wife and Mrs. R. Scott Moncrieff show how skilled he was. Henry Raeburn spent most of his life in Edinburgh. He rarely visited London. This helped him keep his own unique style. He became a very important artist in Scotland during the early 1800s.

People who sat for him often said, "You would never take him for a painter." This was because he had so many other interests. But as soon as he picked up his brush, he was all artist.

The Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch, also known as The Skating Minister (1790s)

Later Life and Legacy

In 1812, Henry Raeburn became president of the Society of Artists in Edinburgh. He also joined the Royal Scottish Academy. In 1822, King George IV visited Scotland. The King made Henry a knight. This meant he was now "Sir Henry Raeburn." He also became the King's official painter for Scotland.

Sir Henry Raeburn died in Edinburgh on July 8, 1823. He is buried in St. Cuthbert's churchyard. His studio was later used by another artist, Colvin Smith.

Raeburn was a very popular and successful portrait painter. He was great at capturing a person's true look. His paintings are known for their strong characters and realistic details. He used dramatic lighting and bold brushstrokes. Another artist, David Wilkie, said Raeburn's brushwork reminded him of the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez.

Raeburn was known for painting directly from life. He did not make many sketches beforehand. This made his paintings feel very fresh and lively. His style was different from other artists of his time. His work even showed hints of future art movements like romanticism and Impressionism.

Notable Works and Subjects

Sir Henry Raeburn painted over a thousand portraits during his 50-year career. Here are some of the people he painted: