The future history of Mr. Raeburn's life is limited to that of the paintings which he executed. Having stu died exclusively the works of the Italian masters, and having been neither in the habit of seeing the works of his contemporaries nor the English collections of old pictures, he maintained an elevation and dignity of style peculiarly his own. His likenesses were, with a very few exceptions, universally regarded as most striking ones. They were always the most favourable that could be taken, and ate highly charactesistic of the mind and pursuits of the individual. His equestrian statues ob tained for him a high degree of reputation, not only from his success in painting horses, but from the skilful manner in which he combined them with the human figure. His principal portraits of this kind are those of his own son upon a pony. of Sir David Baird, of the Duke of llamilion, of the Earl of flopetoun, and of Lord Kmtore's gamekeeper.
Among the early pictures of Mr. Raeburn may be enumerated those of Sir John and Lady Clerk, at Pen nicuick, which were executed soon after his return front Italy ; his portrait of Nlr. John Clerk, now Lord Eldin ; and that of the late Principal Hill. Among his lull length poi traits, executed during the last fifteen years, may he enumerated those of Sir Walter Scott, the late Mr. Keith of Ravelstone, Mr. Dugald Stewart, the late Pro fessor Play (air, the late Francis Horner, M.P. the late Lord Frederick Campbell, Glengarry, the late Macnab, the late Mr. Macdonald of St. Bart. Lot d Glenlee, Lord Douglas, Dr. Hope, Sir John Douglas, Ste. kc.
Among his pictures of a smaller size which have been admired are those of Lady Coming Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Skene of Robislaw, Hay, Mr. Thomas Thom son, Mr. John Murray, the celebrated James Watt, and the late Dr. Marcet.
To this list of some of the best of Mr. Raeburn's pic tures, we shall subjoin the following general observations On his style of painting, which we believe are from the pen of the Rev. Mr Thomson of Duddingston.
Of Sir Henry Raeburn's pictures it may be said that few, perhaps none of them, exhibit that attention to finishing, which invites close and minute inspection. At an early period of his career he began to paint for effect, and he seems to have judged that labour unne cessary which was not to tell in the general result of his works, as viewed at a certain distance from the spectator. In the works of Vandyke, this minuteness of finish and delicate expression of all the smaller parts has been happily combined with a mastery and power over the general effect, which, while it takes nothing away from their vigour, as seen on the walls of the gal lery, renders them interesting and delightful as subjects of near inspection and careful analysis. To those who
are curious to know how far this latter quality may be sacrificed without prejudice to the former, the pictures of Sir Henry will afford a school of very interesting instruction : nor is that discernment and dexterity to be ranked of ordinary attainment, which can at once see and at once express all that is effective and essential, so as to exhibit at the distance from which it is intend ed to be seen, the full result of the highest and most careful finishing. All who are conversant with the practice of the art must have observed how often the spirit which gave life and vigour to a first sketch has gradually evaporated as the picture advanced to its more finished state: To preserve this spirit, combined with the evanescent delicacies and blendings, which appear on minute inspection, constitutes a perfection in art to which few have attained. And if the works of Sir H. fail to exhibit this rare combination, to this dis tinction they will always have a just claim, that they possess a freedom, a vigour, and spirit of effect, con veying an impression of grace, and life, and reality, which we look for in vain amidst thousands of pictures, both ancient and modern, of more elaborate execution and pains-taking finish." Though Mr. Raeburn devoted himself with unceasing assiduity to the labours of his profession, yet he found leisure for cultivating his mind by general reading, and had acquired very considerable information on many subjects that were but little connected with the object of his profession. He was passionately fond of mecha nics and hydrodynamics ; and though he had not acquir ed that knowledge of geometry and analysis which is requisite to the profound study of those branches of knowledge, yet he had obtained a practical acquaintance with them, hiCh is not often possessed by the general reader.
Mr. Raeburn had also paid some attention to the kindred art of sculpture ; and such was his passion for it, that when he was at Rome, he conceived the design of making it his profession. The principal attempt which, in so far as we know, he made in sculpture, was a small medallion of himself, executed after his return from Rome; and it is impossible to see this piece of art without being convinced that Mr. Raeburn would have stood as high as a sculptor as he now does as a painter.