Raeburn's lost portrait of Robert Burns rediscovered

January 22 2026

Video: Blackie House Museum and Library

Posted by Bendor Grosvenor

Here's some news I've been looking forward to bringing you for a while: a lost portrait of the Scottish poet Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn has been rediscovered, and went on display today at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh. It was commissioned by Burns' publishers in 1803, but had been missing for about 200 years. The painting surfaced at auction last year in London, and was acquired by the Blackie House Museum and Library (where I'm a Visiting Fellow) and its director, Dr William Zachs. The video above has the full story, and was made by Ishbel Grosvenor. You can read more about the painting and its context here on the National Galleries of Scotland website. 

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