John Robison (1798)

Photograph © The University of Edinburgh

Artist	Sir Henry Raeburn (Scottish b.1756, d.1823) ^VIAF ^ISNI ^LC
Title	John Robison
Date	1798
Period	18th century; 1790s
Description	Three quarter length portrait. The sitter wears a red gown and white turban like nightcap. His left arm rests on a table beside an open book. Behind his right shoulder is a telescope; in the first draft the place of this had been occupied by a rod in Robison's left hand and this can still be traced under the paint of the final version. The background is dark brown. The colour is brilliant and impressive, the handling powerful and the brushwork, with its broad paralellograms, is almost impressionist in technique. Armstrong has described it as one of the most outstanding of Raeburn's portraits, marking the end of the master's second manner. The painting was engraved by Turner. There is a second portrait of Robison by Raeburn in the rooms of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Both are striking examples of the artist's work.
Material	oil paint (paint)/paint (coating); canvas (textile material)/textile materials/materials (substances)
Dimensions	127 x 101.6 cm
Subject	John Robison (b.1739, d.1805)
Collection	Art Collection
Classification	oil paintings (visual works); portrait; paintings 1600-1800
Accession Number	EU0010