 |
|
|
|
|
RAEBURN, After Sir Henry (1756-1823)
To the Royal Company of Archers, this Portrait of Dr. Nathaniel Spens, a Favorite Member in the Uniform of a Scottish Archer is respectfully dedicated by their most Obedient Humble Servant John Beugo
Edinburgh: John Beugo, February 1796. Engraving, by John Beugo. Image size (including text): 23 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches. Sheet size: 27 7/8 x 19 1/4 inches.
A very fine engraving after 'the Scottish Reynolds'
"Among notable shots of the period may be mentioned... Dr. Nathaniel Spens, probably one of the best and most enthusiastic archers who ever drew a bow. A noble portrait of him by Raeburn, representing him in the act of shooting, now hangs in Archers' Hall [in Edinburgh, Scotland]; he was admitted a member in 1749, became praeses of the council in 1809, and died in 1815." (excerpt from The Badminton Library volume Archery )
"Raeburn's career of some thirty years as a fashionable portrait-painter was one of unbroken professional and social success. His fine presence, genial manners, shrewd sense, and great conversational powers made him a welcome guest in the brilliant society of his day. A complete collection of his works would make a Scottish national portrait gallery of ideal quality a whole army of wise, grave, humorous, capable, or beautiful countenances, painted simply and strongly by a man of genuine instinct. Robertson, Hume, Monboddo, Boswell, Adam Smith, Braxfield, Christopher North, Lord Newton, Dugald Stewart, John Erskine, Jeffrey, and Walter Scott were of the company, to name but the more famous. Burns is almost the only notable absentee from the roll of his sitters.
Raeburn was in love with his daily task. He used to declare portrait-painting to be the most delightful thing in the world, for every one, he said, came to him in the happiest of moods and with the pleasantest of faces. It is significant, too, of the generous temper he showed to his brother-artists that he described his profession as one that leads neither to discords nor disputes.... Fully occupied in his native city, Raeburn had little time for visits to London. He is said to have paid only three short visits to the capital...It was not until 1814 that Raeburn sent his first contribution to the English academy; he was at once elected an associate, and in the following year a full member... In 1822, when George IV paid his famous visit to Edinburgh, Raeburn was one of the citizens singled out for distinction, probably on the initiative of Scott. He was knighted at Hopetoun House, in recognition of his distinguished merit as a painter. The king was so much struck by his appearance and manner that he is said to have told Scott he would have made him a baronet but for the slur on the memory of Reynolds. In May of the following year he was appointed his Majesty's first limner and painter in Scotland, but he did not long enjoy these honours. A few weeks later he made one of a party to St. Andrews (in the annual archæological excursion instituted by the chief commissioner, Adam), among his companions being Scott and Miss Edgeworth. He returned to Edinburgh apparently in excellent health and spirits, and resumed his work on his two half-lengths of Scott, one of which he was painting for himself, and the other for Lord Montague... Within a few days he was seized with a mysterious atrophy. His doctors were unable to discover the cause of it, and, after a week of rapid decline, he died on 8 July 1823. He was buried in the Episcopal church of St. John's, at the west end of Prince's Street, Edinburgh. His grave is in the dormitory at the east end of the church, within a few yards of passers-by in the street." (DNB).
|
#5256 $2,500.00 
|
© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
