RAEBURN, Sir HENRY,n. A.. a distinguished portrait-painter, was b. on Mar. 4, 1756, at Stockbridge, then a village near Edinburgh, where his father was a manufacturer. His parents died when his was little more than six years old, and he was educated in that well-known institution, George Heriot's hospital. He was apprenticed to a goldsmith and jeweler when about 15 years of age; but having a very decided taste for art, he practiced miniature-painting during his leisure hours with such success that he was soon enabled to buy up his indenture and devote himself first to miniature, and not long after to portrait-painting in oil. He married when he was 22, and acquired some fortune by his wife. Proceeding to London, with introductions to sir Joshua Reynolds, be was kindly received by him, and practiced in his studio for about two months. Sir Joshua very soon perceived the high talent evinced by the young artist; advised him to visit Rome, and offered him funds for the purpose. Acting on this advice—he had funds sufficient—Raeburn set out, furnished with letters from Reynolds to Pompeo, Battone, and other artists of note in Rome at the time. After remaining two years in Italyolle returned, and settled in Edinburgh in 1787, where he soon received full employment as a portrait-painter. In 1812 Raetu•n was elected president of the society of •irtists in Edinburgh; in 1814, associate of the Royal academy of London, and in the following.
year, academician. He was knighted in 1822, when George IV. visited Scotland, and
shortly after was appointed king's limner for Scotland. Ile died at Edinburgh on July 8, 1823. Raeburn's style was modeled in a great degree on that of Reynolds—he aimed, like him, in his pictures to produce breadth—which is the effect obtained by massing together and keeping as far as possible the lights distinct from the shadows, and making them respectively effective, in place of dividing and mixing them up all over the picture; but be carried out this principle in a manner and with a feeling peculiarly his own. He never attempted, by thick impasto and semi-transparent painting, to produce texture and luminous effect, but adopted the opposite mode of painting in a low tone with a sharp touch, working his colors with little admixture of any unctuous medium, In his portraits of men, in particular, he gives thecharacteristic expression in a simple but decided and effective manner. His style has been thought by connoisseurs to resemble in many respects that of Velasquez.. Rachurn's reputation was very high in his lifetime, and it is still rising, his pictures being now much sought after. Among the notable personages who sat to Raeburn for their portraits were sir David Baird, sir Walter Scott, Henry Mackenzie, Neil Gow, Harry Erskine, Dugald Stewart. prof. Mayfair, Francis Jeffrey, Henry Cockburn, and many Scottish nobles. An exhibition of his works was held at Edinburgh in 1876.