Raeburn Close - Henry Raeburn (1756-1823):

Henry Raeburn was a Scottish portrait painter, after whom Raeburn close is named. He was the son of a manufacturer and was educated at Heriot's Hospital after being orphaned. Initially apprenticed to a goldsmith, Raeburn began crafting portrait miniatures and quickly transitioned to oil painting. Influenced by Edinburgh's leading portrait painter David Martin, Raeburn trained self-taught in oil painting, leading to a successful career. In his early twenties, Raeburn married Ann Edgar, a wealthy widow, which enabled him to study art in Italy. There, he received advice from prominent figures like Sir Joshua Reynolds and studied Michelangelo's works. Returning to Edinburgh in 1787, he became renowned for his portraits, including notable figures such as Sir Walter Scott and other prominent Scots. Raeburn's work is characterized by powerful characterizations, dramatic lighting, and broad handling of paint. Although he rarely visited London, his influence shaped Scottish art profoundly. He was elected president of the Society of Artists in Edinburgh in 1812 and was knighted in 1822. Raeburn died in Edinburgh on July 8, 1823. His portraits, known for their vivid and direct likenesses, anticipated later 19th-century art movements.