RAEBURN, Sir Henry
(b. 1756, Stockbridge, d. 1823, Edinburgh)

Portrait of Sir John Sinclair

1794-95
Oil on canvas, 238 x 154 cm
National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

Raeburn, the leading Scottish portrait painter of his period, painted directly on to the canvas without preliminary drawings, and his vigorous, bold handling - sometimes called his 'square touch' - could be extraordinarily effective in conveying the character of rugged Highland chiefs.