Lord Provost Thomas Elder (1797)

Sir Henry Raeburn

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Artist Sir Henry Raeburn (Scottish b.1756, d.1823) VIAF ISNI LC
Title Lord Provost Thomas Elder
Date 1797
Period 18th century ; 1790s
Description The sitter, in provost's robes, is placed to the left of the canvas, the space behind him being occupied by the red back of his chair. Behind his right arm are the plans of the University; the usual red drapery fills the upper background. As in the portrait of William Robertson the face is overpowerful, but it seems somewhat over-heavy for the body. The composition is, however, more satisfactory and the picture represents an advance in the development of the painters style. Thomas Elder of Forneth was one of the most famous of the City's Lords Provost. Popular with his fellow merchants, he was elected Member of the Chamber of Commerce and Master of the Merchant Company. Favoured by the Government of the day, to which he had rendered valuable service by suppressing the local reform and revolutionary societies, he had the rare honour of being twice re-elected to the office of Lord Provost, which he held in 1788-1790, 1792-1794 and 1796-1798: not since the days of his renowned predecessor, George Drummond, had a provost been re-elected. During his terms in office, Provost Elder did much to help the University. As Lord Provost he was not only nominal Rector of the University but also Chairman of the body which controlled the University's finances and appointments. His interests in academic welfare, however, was not purely official. An intimate friend of Dundas of Arniston, Lord Melville, and Pitt, he used his influence to raise funds for the building of a new college, the present Old College, a project that had been spoken of for more than twenty years. When the foundation-stone was laid on 16th November 1789, Elder prseided over the ceremony, replying to Lord Napier's congratulatory address, and, later entertaining five hundred of the City's chief inhabitants to a banquet in the Assembly Rooms. Less laudable, perhaps, were Edler's successful efforts to have his son-in-law, George Husband Baird, elected Principal in succession to Dr. Robertson, but in the event the appointment was justified, for, in the long period of prosperous development Baird inaugurated, one of the greatest achievements was the procuring of the funds necessary for the completion of the Old College, for whose original Thomas Elder must be regarded as largely responsible.
Material oil paint (paint)/paint (coating) ; canvas (textile material)/textile materials/materials (substances)
Dimensions 127 x 101.6 cm
Type Painting
Subject Thomas Elder (b.1737, d.1799)
Collection Art Collection ; Object Lessons
Classification oil paintings (visual works) ; paintings 1600-1800 ; portrait
Accession Number EU0005
 Tags:  Robe



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