Work of Scotland’s foremost portrait painter to go on display in Kirkcudbright

An exhibition of work by Scotland’s foremost and finest portrait painter is set to open in Kirkcudbright.

Eye to Eye: Sir Henry Raeburn’s Portraits – will run at Kirkcudbright Galleries from Saturday until September 29.

Living in Edinburgh all his life, in his most prolific years from around 1790 to his death, Raeburn painted more than 1,000 known portraits.

These record a remarkable range of society at a time when Scotland flourished as a crucible of thought and science and was made hugely wealthy through transatlantic trade.

Sitters, from society’s traditional great and good to the aspiring, upwardly mobile middle classes, flocked to him for the ultimate status symbol – their portrait.

The council has joined forces with Kirkcudbright 2000 to present this exquisite exhibition that has come to fruition after 18 months of careful planning and preparation.

Containing some 40 works, the exhibition has drawn from public and private UK collections – with many portraits never seen in public before.

Eye to Eye challenges the general opinion that Raeburn’s genius – and he never made sketches – was best directed at portraits of men. His women and children, always more private works, are full of allure and great charm.

Curator, Amanda Herries, said: “Raeburn’s portraits are extraordinarily well-observed records of Scottish society. We could see these faces in the street any time.

“Elegant and flattering, yes, and the same preoccupation with image that we see everywhere today.

“The difference is simply that Raeburn’s sitters had only once chance to have their ‘essence’ captured and reflected, unlike the selfie generation.”

The exhibition has been supported by Friends of Kirkcudbright Galleries, The Whisky Shop, The Holywood Trust, Foyle Foundation and Robin Rigg Offshore Wind.