Robert Macqueen, Lord Braxfield 1798

This is Henry Raeburn’s portrait of Robert Macqueen, Lord Braxfield, a formidable Scottish judge, painted with oil on canvas. Raeburn’s approach to painting was quite direct, and even a bit blunt. But this is precisely what gives the work its impact. Look at how the white of Lord Braxfield’s ermine robe practically glows against the dark background. This effect would have depended on Raeburn’s deft handling of his materials, and of course, the quality of his pigments. The very substance of the paint, its texture and application, contributes significantly to the overall impression. You can almost feel the weight of the man, and the authority he possessed. It’s a great example of how the physical qualities of a painting can convey something beyond the subject represented.