Gift of Larry Hartford and Torleif Tandstad, 2016.1.8

A leading portrait of his period, Raeburn was the first major Scottish painter to work largely in his own country. His portraits create a superb visual record of a golden age of culture and society in Scotland in general and Edinburgh in particular. On leaving school, he was apprenticed to a goldsmith; he appears to have been largely self taught as a painter. In 1784-6 he visited Italy (going via London, where he is said to have met Sir Joshua Reynolds, the leading English portraitist of the era), but Raeburn's distinctive style was already largely formed by this time. The sitter here is believed to be John Wilson (1785-1857), poet and essayist, and Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University.

This painting was recently restored. Paintings often accumulate dirt on their surface over time and the layers of varnish covering the paint can become discolored. Paint loss is also common. Art conservators, who usually have training in studio art, art history, and chemistry, in addition to specialized training in their field, are able to clean them, replace paint losses, and stabilize the supporting canvas and frame. This helps ensure the long-term safety of the painting while allowing for a more faithful study of the artist's work.

The conservation of this painting was generously supported by Dame Jackie.