RAEBURN, SIR HENRY, the most celebrated por trait painter that Scotland ever produced, was born on the 4th March, 1756, and was the son of Mr. Wil liam Raeburn, a respectable manufacturer at Stock bridge, one of the suburbs of Edinburgh. Although he had the misfortune to lose his parents when a child, yet his elder brother William, who succeeded to his father's business, took the charge of his education, which naturally devolved upon him.
Sir Henry's propensity to drawing was observed only in his striking superiority to the other boys in delineat ing figures on the slate, at the class of arithmetic ; but this does not seem to have influenced him in the choice of a profession, or to have excited any expectations on the part of his friends. • At the age of fifteen, he was bound apprentice to an eminent goldsmith in Edinburgh ; and it was in this si tuation that his taste and passion for painting were first developed. He first amused himself with painting miniatures, without having either seen a picture, or re ceived any instructions in the art. These miniatures were executed in such a superior manner as to excite the attention of his friends ; and, with the view of en couraging the young artist, his master took him to see the pictures of David Martin, with which he was de lighted and astonished.
Mr. Raeburn now continued to paint miniatures, which came into general demand ; but as this new em ployment interfered with his duties as an apprentice, an arrangement was made, by which his master re ceived a proportion of his earnings, and dispensed with his attendance.
Flaying nnw acquired some experience in this art, Air. Raeburn began to paint in oil, and on a large scale; and he was assisted in this task by the kindness of Martin, who lent him several pictures to copy, but who gave him no other kind of aid. In this manner, he was gradually led to give up miniature painting-. and, as soon as his apprenticeship had expired, became profes sionally a portrait painter.
In 1778, Mr. Raeburn married a daughter of Peter Edgar, Esq. of Bridgelands, with whom he received some fortune ; but in place of settling himself quietly in Edinburgh, this change in his circumstances seems to have increased his desire of excelling in his profession.
With the view of improving in his art, he repaired to London, and introduced himself and his works to the notice of Sir Joshua Reynolds. From that great man Mr. Raeburn met with the kindest reception. He recommended a residence in Italy, as likely to en large his ideas and promote his improvement, and he even offered, had it been required, to supply the funds for that purpose. In obedience to this advice, Mr. Raeburn set out for Rome, with introductory letters from Sir Joshua to the most eminent artists and men of science in that capital. After spending two years in Italy, diligently engaged in studying those great works of art with which that country abounds, he returned in 1787, and established himself in Edinburgh. Ileving taken apartments in George Street, lie found himself at once in the possession of full employment ; and David Martin, who perceived the popularity and success of his rival, speedily retired from business. Mr. Raeburn was, therefore, now placed at the head of his profession in Scotland, an eminence which no artist presumed to dispute with him during the remainder of his life.
In the year 1795, Mr. Raeburn built a large house in York Place, the upper part of which he lighted from the roof, and fitted up as an extensive gallery, while the rest of the house was laid out in convenient painting rooms. He constantly resided at St. Bernard's near Stockbridge, a house which he had neatly fitted up, on the banks of the Water of Leith, which has here a pic turesque appearance. Contiguous to his paternal resi dence there, he purchased some fields on its north bank, which he has feued out on perpetual leases, on a judicious and tasteful plan, and which, from some recent improve ments executed by his son, particularly a new stone bridge, promises to be the most extensive, as it is the most beautiful suburb of our fine city.