Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A.

Commissioned directly from the artist by the sitter's son-in-law Sir William Forbes, 7th Bt. (1773–1828), the account for which was settled 4 February 1819 (see Note).

Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy, Exhibition of the Works of Sir Henry Raeburn, 1876, no. 267.

List of Portraits at Fettercairn House, 1924, p. 13 (Hall, over Dining Room door).

The following condition report is provided by Henry Gentle who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: The canvas is unlined and on its original retaining stretcher. There is a slight loss of tension and evidence of stretcher marks to the surface. Some minor instability of the paint layer is evident , with accompanying very minor flaked paint loss. There is a filigree of original shrinkage cracking of the paint layer and raised bituminous paint to the shadows of the sitter's coat collar. The painting is in original untouched condition. A discoloured varnish covers the surface .
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The original receipt for this work, reproduced here, is held with the Fettercairn Papers at the National Library of Scotland; 'Edinburgh, 4 February 1819, Received from Sir Will^m Forbes Bar^t, 30 Gn^s for the Portrait of Sir John Stuart Bar^t - - Henry Raeburn' NLS (Acc.4796/192). Sir John Belsches Wishart was MP for Kincardineshire from 1797 until 1806. In 1797 he changed his name by Royal Licence to Sir John Stuart of Fettercairn.